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SUVA: Royal British Meghan Markle recounted her own struggles to afford university as she passionately promoted female education to Fijian students in her first speech of the Oceania Royal Tour Wednesday.
The pregnant American-born wife of Britain's Prince Harry took center stage at the University of South Pacific to push the box for open access to education, especially for women.
"For women and girls in developing nations this is vital," she said. "Providing them with access to education is the key to economic and social development.
"When girls are given the right tools to succeed they can create incredible futures, not only for themselves, but for all of those around them."
Meghan, 37, graduated from Northwestern University in Illinois before becoming an actress then marrying Harry earlier this year.
Announcing two grants to encourage female empowerment in Pacific academia, she said, "Incredible, impactful and pivotal," despite the challenge of paying for it.
"It was learned, financial aid programs and work-study – where my earnings from a job on campus went straight to my tuition – that I was able to attend university," she said.
"And, without question, it was worth every effort."
Harry, who attended the elite Eton school and Sandhurst military academy,
"No way I can follow my wife after that," he said, to laughter from the assembled students.
The prince acknowledged the Pacific's concerns about climate change, announcing four scholarships to study the issue.
"All of you living here are confronted with this threat in your daily lives," he said. "You are actually experiencing changing weather patterns, ferocious cyclones and rising sea levels, particularly in Tuvalu and Kiribati.
"You've been living with this for a lot of years, it's been here before it."
The royal couple, who arrived in Fiji on Tuesday evening after a week in Australia.
Meghan wore a pink floral print, while Harry sported a blue Hawaiian shirt.
Harry is visiting a rainforest project on Saturday afternoon with Meghan visiting Suva markets.
The kingdoms will travel to Tonga on Thursday before returning to Australia then wrapping up the tour to New Zealand.
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