Jale Daucakacaka Ratu Epeli (back) during Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip’s 1977 Fiji visit. Picture: SUPPLIED
It was a great honour to have served as Equerry for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth and the late Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Philip. These were the sentiments of Speaker of Parliament, Ratu Epeli Nailatikau of his interaction with the late Prince Philip, who passed away on Friday at the age of 99. “I was a major back then in the Royal Fiji Military Forces and my Commander, Colonel Paul Manueli, ordered me to fly to Tonga to await the Queen and Prince Philip’s arrival from Samoa, as part of her Silver Jubilee Pacific Tour in February 1977,” he said.