The Duke of Sussex Prince Harry today revealed that Vunidogoloa in Vanua Levu was the first village in the world to be relocated due to the rise of sea level.

Speaking in Colo-I-Suva during the unveiling of a plaque, Prince Harry says since 2012, five more villages in Fiji have been moved.

Prince Harry says climate change is having a significant impact on Fiji and is having a profound effect on people’s lives.

“In the next eighteen months, I have been told ten more will be relocated and within the next couple of years, it is expected that over forty villages will be displaced. We cannot ignore the reality of what is happening around us. But thankfully, good work is also being done.”

Prince Harry says that he is impressed by Fiji’s understanding of how to work sustainably with the surroundings.

He says that it’s incredibly encouraging to see many countries that have now signed up to his grandmother’s name to preserve forests throughout the Commonwealth.

The Duke of Sussex adds that as of last week, 42 of the 53 member countries are now part of the project, Kiribati being the latest.

The Queens Commonwealth Canopy is an initiative that began in 2015 as a network of forest conservation programmes throughout the 53 countries of the Commonwealth nations.

Prince Harry also unveiled a plaque dedicating it to the Queens Commonwealth Canopy and planted a tree in Colo-I-Suva.

Meanwhile, the unveiling of the statue of Sergeant Talaiasi Labalaba will be held in Nadi tomorrow before the Duke and Duchess of Sussex depart for the Kingdom of Tonga.

The event will be live on FBC TV at 11am.