British High Commissioner to Fiji Brian Jones says the installation of Ratu Epenisa Seru Cakobau as Turaga Vunivalu na Tui Kaba was significant as it coincided with the coronation of King Charles III later this year.

The Fiji Times caught up with him during the historic ceremony on Bau Island yesterday.

“It’s a huge privilege for me to be here on behalf of my government,” he said.

“And it was mentioned during our sevusevu to Ratu Epenisa last week that we’ll be coming together for his installation and later this year a coronation for King Charles III.

“So it’s an auspicious occasion for me to be invited by Ratu Epenisa to Bau Island to recognise and acknowledge his significance in Fiji and to pay my respects on behalf of the British people and King Charles III.”

Mr Jones said he has been keeping in touch with King Charles on matters related to Fiji.

“I have kept him fully appraised of the events in Fiji and he’s now looking forward to planning his travel schedule as he takes his seat on the throne and I have kept him fully informed of events in Fiji,

“And he is very interested in Fiji particularly as well as the Pacific.

“I come here with great pride for the historical relationship Fiji and the United Kingdom had.

“It is a great honour for me to represent all the sixty-five million people in UK who respected and acknowledged that history in Fiji and our traditional links.

“And my job here is to make sure those links get stronger over time and it’s been a privilege to see Fijian history in action.”