Royal Tour: Prince Harry, Meghan Markle weigh in on women's rights, climate change in Fiji

Both the Duke and Duchess of Sussex waded into territory the royals had previously avoided on Wednesday - talking about women's rights and climate change.

There was a hand out to protect the Duchess from the back. She smiled but perhaps uneasily - usually at these events the crowds and media are kept well back.

The crowds were happy and non-threatening, but excitement was feverish.

"I am feeling very excited, by 9am we start singing songs and praising and everything because we're so happy because of this visit," said florist Nina Tuimouta.

Inside the market, Meghan had met female stall holders who're part of a UN Women's project called Markets for Change.

The President of Markets for Change's Fijian branch, Sofia Saunikalau, says she's admired Meghan since the now-famous moment when she complained about a sexist soap advert as a teenager.

"When I saw that I thought, 'Man, she's just like me!'" Ms Saunikalau said. "I hate for women to be discriminated and put down."

That theme was one Meghan herself brought up earlier in the day. Though there was a cute baby bump moment as a youngster grabbed the chance to give it a long hug.

But babies were not her priority.

"Everyone should be afforded the opportunity to receive the education they want, but more importantly the education they have the right to receive," she said.

"For women and girls in developing countries, this is vital."

The opportunity for Fijians to get a glimpse of the royals has been limited by the short time they are here, but Prince Harry's solo event was markedly more controlled.

While yesterday's event was a huge public affair, Prince Harry's last public engagement in Suva was strictly by invitation only. 

He visited the Colo-i-Suva forest, where Litiana Bilivanua - the woman who served tea to the Queen in 1953 - finally got to meet him when he walked straight over to the picture of his grandmother.

There's another link between Ms Bilivanua and the royals now - as they've leased part of the land to the Queen's Commonwealth Canopy, a forest conservation project. 

"I'm feeling like I nearly crying," Ms Bilivanua said.

She was emotional because she's wanted to meet another royal for 53 years, and the next generation of Fijians will now have their own stories to tell their grandkids.

Prince Harry thanked them for their work protecting the native species.

"Not everybody in the world is doing as good a job as you are, so thank you - well done," he said.

Newshub.