That made her morning! The Queen flashes a smile as she's greeted by topless men in traditional Fijian grass skirts at an exhibition in Norwich

  • The Queen visited an exhibition on Fiji at the University of East Anglia, Norwich
  • She flashed a smile as she was greeted by men dressed in traditional grass skirts
  • Exhibition is billed as the most comprehensive on the Commonwealth country 

By Stephanie Linning for MailOnline

Published: 07:56 EST, 27 January 2017 | Updated: 11:48 EST, 27 January 2017

She is accustomed to formal banquets and officers in military finery.

So it is perhaps of little surprise the Queen flashed a smile as she was greeted by topless warriors at a Fiji exhibition at the University of East Anglia in Norwich this morning.

Despite the near-freezing temperatures, the barefoot men stood outside in traditional grass skirts to meet the monarch as she stepped out of her car. Others celebrated the moment with a rhythmic welcome on large drums. 

Oh my! The Queen looked taken aback as she was greeted by the topless men today

Charming: The monarch regained her composure and flashed a smile as she walked inside

Bright spot: The Queen did not let the chilly weather dampen her spirits as she arrived

Memory lane: The Queen watches a video of her and the Duke of Edinburgh in Fiji in 1953

Day out: Nursery school children wave Union flags as they welcome the Queen to the centre

The Queen, 90, looked briefly taken aback but quickly regained her signature charm and smiled as she was met by officials.  

Crowds of well-wishers gathered to welcome the monarch, cheering and taking photos as she made her way into the building.

The Queen looked magnificent in a vibrant fuchsia coat and matching two-tone hat.

The exhibition at the university's Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts, is billed as the largest and most comprehensive exhibition about the South Pacific nation.

Fiji: Art & Life in the Pacific features stunning sculptures, textiles, and ceramics alongside ivory and shell regalia.

It will also present both Fijian artworks and a European response to them - paintings, drawings and historic photographs of the 19th and 20th century.

Honoured: The men stood to attention as the Queen made her way into the exhibition

Welcome: A group of schoolchildren looked on as the Queen was greeted outside the centre

Flash of colour: The Queen looked magnificent in a vibrant fuchsia coat and matching hat 

Delighted: The Queen, who was ill over the festive period, appeared in fine spirits this morning

Fanfare: Waving flags and holding up pictures, schoolchildren wait to see the Queen today

Jubilant: Men in traditional dress play a Fijian instrument as the Queen arrives at the centre

These include watercolours by the intrepid Victorian travel writer and artist Constance Gordon-Cumming, and the Irish naval artist James Glen Wilson, who was in Fiji in the 1850s.

During her visit the Queen saw the ceremonial whale tooth, or tabua, which was presented to her during her first visit to Fiji in 1953.

She also watched a video showing herself and the Duke of Edinburgh in Fiji in 1953.

Fascinated: The Queen takes in some of the exhibits on display inside the centre

Cultural: She also met Fijian students studying at the UEA and other Fijians living in the UK

Interested: The Queen asked questions as she made her way around the exhibition

The monarch also met Fijian students studying at the UEA and other Fijians living in the UK.

Having visited Fiji a number of times, the Queen was well versed with some of its customs and as she was taken on her tour appeared fascinated by the exhibits and asked a number of questions. 

The Duke of Edinburgh was scheduled in error to attend the event, Buckingham Palace said, and it is understood he was out and about on the Sandringham Estate instead. 

Support: The Queen was greeted by a large crowd of well-wishers as she arrived this morning

Memories: During her visit the Queen will see the ceremonial whale tooth, or tabua, which was presented to her during her first visit to Fiji in 1953

Treasures: The exhibition features sculptures, textiles, ceramics, and ivory and shell regalia

Celebration: Men in traditional Fijian dress played instruments to mark the Queen's arrival

Gift: A schoolgirl waits to give the Queen flowers as two men play an instrument behind

Excited: Supporters cheered and took photos on their phones when they spotted the Queen

This exhibition is the result of a three-year arts and humanities Research Council-funded project which examined the extensive but little known Fijian collections in the UK and overseas, and uncovered some significant treasures.

Research project leader and exhibition curator Professor Steven Hooper said: 'An important aspect of this exhibition is that the many examples of exceptional Fijian creativity on display are not presented as 'ethnographic specimens' or 'illustrations' of Fijian culture, but as works of art in their own right, as worthy of attention as any art tradition in the world, including Modernism.

'Remarkable creative imagination is applied to the making of ancestral god images, ritual dishes and regalia, and to the decoration of enormous barkcloths.'

Braving the cold: Well-wishers wrapped up as they waited to catch a glimpse of the Queen

Crowds: Supporters packed into every available space in the hope of seeing the monarch

 

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