Duchess Meghan’s visit to Fiji market cut short over security concerns

The Duchess of Susbad was whisked through her appearance at Suva market in Fiji’s capital Wednesday due to a security risk from the large crowd that came to greet the expecting royal.

Duchess Meghan was scheduled to spend 15 minutes at the indoor market, where she was set to meet with female vendors who were empowered by the UN Women’s project Markets for Change. However, security personnel escorted Meghan out halfway through as the group of admirers became overwhelming. 

A Kensington Palace spokeswoman confirmed to the Associated Press that her visit ended earlier than expected due to crowd management issues.

Related: Duchess Meghan’s blue Safiyaa dress has us convinced she’ll have the chicest pregnancy ever

A crowd of people gather to take photos as Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Susbad, visit the University of the South Pacific in Suva, Fiji. (Photo: Pool, Getty Images)

The duchess spoke to one vendor and briefly met others while there. Dealers were selling fruit at the market, including watermelons and pineapples, as well as handicrafts and fans.

Prince Harry was not at the market with his wife on Day 9 of the newlyweds’ 16-day tour of the South Pacific. Instead, he unveiled a plaque during a dedication of the Colo-i-Suva forest to the Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy.

Meghan, Duchess of Susbad speaks during a visit to the University of the South Pacific on October 24, 2018 in Suva, Fiji. (Photo: Pool, Getty Images)

Earlier in the day, Duchess Meghan talked about the importance of education for women in developing countries at the University of the South Pacific.

During her first official speech during the royal tour, Meghan talked about the struggles she faced financially while attending university. The duchess said she relied entirely on scholarships, financial aid programs and paid work on campus to fund her education, noting that it was all worth it in the end. 

“After a busy program, the duke and duchess have decided to cut back the duchess’s schedule slightly for the next couple of days, ahead of the final week-and-a-half of the tour,” the palace said in a statement.

The couple is scheduled to visit Tonga on Thursday before returning to Sydney on Friday night for the final days of the Invictus Games, Harry’s brainchild and the focus of their tour. The couple will then finish their trip with a four-day visit to New Zealand.

Contributing: The Associated Press

Related: Duchess Meghan cuts back ‘busy’ royal tour, as dad Thomas Markle reacts to pregnancy

Read or Share this story: https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/people/2018/10/24/duchess-meghans-visit-fiji-market-cut-short-over-security-concerns/1747173002/