The Queen enjoys a cultural tour of Fiji at the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts

Her Majesty The Queen, Ratu Sir Lala Sukuna, His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh and Governor Sir Ronald Garvey entering Suva�s Albert Park for a chiefly reception in honour of Her Majesty�s first visit to Fiji on 17 December 1953. Image: Sainsbury Research Unit Archives, G.K. Roth Collection; photographer Robertson Wright, December 1953. (Image: Sainsbury Research Unit Archives, G.K. Roth Collection; photographer Robertson Wright, December 1953)

Huge crowds turned out to watch the Queen's arrival at the centre on the University of East Anglia campus, and there were big cheers when her car drew up at the entrance and she stepped out onto the red carpet.

Excited pupils from West Earlham Infant and Nursery School and Bluebell Primary School were among those to give a warm welcome to the Queen who was dressed in a striking fuschia and black outfit for the occasion.

She was greeted by the UEA's vice-chancellor, Professor David Richardson, the Fiji High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Jitoko Tikolevu.

Once inside the Sainsbury Centre, she enjoyed a tour of the exhibition Fiji: Art and Life in the Pacific, which is thought to be the world's largest show about the island nation and takes visitors through more than 200 years of the country's history from the late 18th century to the present day.

The Queen's tour began with a Fijian choir performing for her next to one of the exhibition highlights - a specially-commissioned Fijian sailing canoe which featured in the Queen's 90th birthday celebration pageant at Windsor Castle - before she was taken around the rest of the show by curators Professor Steven Hooper, Dr Karen Jacobs and Ms Katrina Igglesden.

The Queen's visit to the Fiji Exhibition at the Sainsbury Centre. Professor Steven Hooper, front, the exhibition curator, shows the Queen the exhibition, accompanied by his co curators, Katrina Igglesden, 2nd right, and Karen Jacobs, right. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2017)

Professor Hooper said it was a very special day and wonderful to see the Queen - who has visited Fiji a number of times - show such enthusiasm for the exhibition.

'We are really happy that she was able to come, and the Fijians who came here today were all really happy and proud. They will never forget today and nor will I,' he said.

'After the President of Fiji opened the exhibition in October he had an audience with the Queen and gave her a copy of the catalogue, and she showed interest in wanting to see the exhibition when she was at Sandringham. Now it has happened, and it is brilliant.

'She knows Fiji, she was really engaged in the exhibition, really enjoyed the choir singing and looking at particular objects that have royal association.'

Among the exhibits the Queen paused to look at was a ceremonial whale tooth, or tabua, which she was presented with during her first visit to Fiji in December 1953, and she also watched black and white footage of the tour.

The Queen's visit to the Fiji Exhibition at the Sainsbury Centre. The Fijian warriors drum for the Queen's arrival. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2017)

There were many treasures in the exhibition which caught the Queen's eye, including some which had special connections.

One of them was a wedding dress created using traditional Fijian barkcloth textiles which are made from paper mulberry trees.

Ms Igglesden, who showed the Queen the dress, said: 'The dress is the wedding dress of [former Fijian president and prime minister] Ratu Kamisese Mara's daughter and interestingly the Queen's comment to me was that his daughter married Her Majesty's lady in waiting's son and so she knows the personal connection between this Fijian family and the British family. 'To be able to show her something that she actually knew the people it related to was really nice.'

Other items prompted the Queen to reminisce about her experiences while in Fiji.

Dr Jacobs said: 'She was interested in a really big kava bowl and we actually spoke about the fact that she drank kava [a traditional Fijian drink] during a visit to Fiji.

The Queen's visit to the Fiji Exhibition at the Sainsbury Centre. Children from Bluebell Primary School await the arrival of the Queen. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2017)

'She actually stopped herself at a big tabua, a big whale's tooth, because she was actually given one during her first visit to Fiji...She was also impressed by the Fijian clubs. It was really nice to see how engaged she really was and knowledgeable about Fiji.'

The Queen was given posies of flowers by Clara Winner, 11, and Mirabelle Harden, eight. Milla and Roxy Goos, aged seven and 10, presented the Queen with a fan and an album full of photos of the exhibition and her Fiji visits. The Queen also met a number of people including UEA students and Fijians living in the UK before unveiling a plaque to mark the visit.

It had been thought the Duke of Edinburgh was to attend yesterday's visit, but a Buckingham Palace spokesman said he had been scheduled in error. The spokesman said he was 'perfectly well' and had other private engagements at Sandringham today.

The exhibition runs until February 12. Click here for more information.

The Queen's visit to the Fiji Exhibition at the Sainsbury Centre. The Lord Mayor of Norwich, Marion Maxwell, with the Fijian warriors. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2017)

The Queen's visit to the Fiji Exhibition at the Sainsbury Centre. UEA students and spectators photograph the Queen as she arrives. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2017)

The Queen's visit to the Fiji Exhibition at the Sainsbury Centre. Children from West Earlham Infant School waiting patiently with their flags for the Queen to arrive. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2017)

The Queen's visit to the Fiji Exhibition at the Sainsbury Centre. Fijian warriors greet the Queen's car as she arrives. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2017)

The Queen arrives for her visit to the Fiji Exhibition at the Sainsbury Centre. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2017)

The Queen arrives for her visit to the Fiji Exhibition at the Sainsbury Centre, and is greeted by the Lord Lieutenant, Richard Jewson. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2017)

The Queen arrives for her visit to the Fiji Exhibition at the Sainsbury Centre. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2017)

The Queen's visit to the Fiji Exhibition at the Sainsbury Centre. The Queen is introduced to, from left, Police and Crime Commissioner Lorne Green; MP Clive Lewis; the Lord Mayor, Marion Maxwell; chairman of the County Council, David Collis; and the High Sheriff of Norfolk, Sir William Cubitt; with the Lord Lieutenant, Richard Jewson, right. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2017)

The Queen's visit to the Fiji Exhibition at the Sainsbury Centre. The Queen is introduced to, from left, Police and Crime Commissioner Lorne Green; MP Clive Lewis; the Lord Mayor, Marion Maxwell; chairman of the County Council, David Collis; and the High Sheriff of Norfolk, Sir William Cubitt; with the Lord Lieutenant, Richard Jewson, right. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2017)

The Queen studies the exhibits during her visit to the Fiji Exhibition at the Sainsbury Centre. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2017)

The Queen's visit to the Fiji Exhibition at the Sainsbury Centre. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2017)

The Queen's visit to the Fiji Exhibition at the Sainsbury Centre. The Fiji High Commissioner to the UK, Jitoko Tikolevu bows as he meets the Queen. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2017)

The Fijian choir sing during the Queen's visit to the Fiji Exhibition at the Sainsbury Centre. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2017)

The Queen studies the exhibits during her visit to the Fiji Exhibition at the Sainsbury Centre. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2017)

The Queen studies the ceremonial whale tooth which was presented to her on her first visit to Fiji in 1953, during her visit to the Fiji Exhibition at the Sainsbury Centre. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2017)

The Queen studies the exhibits during her visit to the Fiji Exhibition at the Sainsbury Centre. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2017)

The Queen studies the exhibits during her visit to the Fiji Exhibition at the Sainsbury Centre. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2017)

The Queen studies the exhibits during her visit to the Fiji Exhibition at the Sainsbury Centre. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2017)

The Queen meets the family of the Fiji High Commissioner, Jitoko Tikolevu, right, during her visit to the Fiji Exhibition at the Sainsbury Centre. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2017)

The Queen listens to the Fijian choir during her visit to the Fiji Exhibition at the Sainsbury Centre. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2017)

The Queen listens to the Fijian choir during her visit to the Fiji Exhibition at the Sainsbury Centre. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2017)

The Queen is presented with Fijian gifts presented by Milla, seven, and Roxy Goos, ten, during her visit to the Fiji Exhibition at the Sainsbury Centre. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2017)

The Queen speaks to some of the Fijian choir members during her visit to the Fiji Exhibition at the Sainsbury Centre. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2017)

The Fiji High Commissioner to the UK, Jitoko Tikolevu shows the Queen some of the exhibits during her visit to the Fiji Exhibition at the Sainsbury Centre. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2017)

The Queen's visit to the Fiji Exhibition at the Sainsbury Centre. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2017)

The Queen meets Fijian students during her visit to the Fiji Exhibition at the Sainsbury Centre. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2017)

The Queen during her visit to the Fiji Exhibition at the Sainsbury Centre. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2017)

The Queen during her visit to the Fiji Exhibition at the Sainsbury Centre. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2017)

The Queen during her visit to the Fiji Exhibition at the Sainsbury Centre. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2017)

The Queen unveils a plaque marking her visit to the Fiji Exhibition at the Sainsbury Centre. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2017)

The Queen prepares to leave after her visit to the Fiji Exhibition at the Sainsbury Centre. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2017)

The Lord Mayor, Marion Maxwell, escorts the Queen as she leaves after her visit to the Fiji Exhibition at the Sainsbury Centre. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2017)

The Queen smiles as she leaves the Fiji Exhibition at the Sainsbury Centre. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2017)

UEA students watch as the Queen leaves after her visit to the Fiji Exhibition at the Sainsbury Centre. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2017)

The Fijian choir wave goodbye as the Queen leaves after her visit to the Fiji Exhibition at the Sainsbury Centre. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2017)