1987 Fijian coups d'état in the context of "Sitiveni Rabuka"

The monarchy of Fiji arose in the 19th century, when native ruler Seru Epenisa Cakobau consolidated control of the Fijian Islands in 1871 and declared himself king, or paramount chief, of Fiji (Fijian: Tui Viti). Three years later, he voluntarily ceded sovereignty of the islands to Britain, making Fiji a crown colony within the British Empire. Fiji was ceded to Britain on 10 October 1874. The capital was formally established at Levuka on the island of Ovalau. Levuka was proclaimed Fiji's first town in 1877 but soon after it was decided to move the capital to Suva. In 1879, in order to meet its labour needs, indentured labourers from India were brought to Fiji. The first lot arrived at Levuka on 14 May 1878.

On 10 October 1970, and after nearly a century of British rule, Fiji became a Commonwealth realm—an independent state within the Commonwealth of Nations with Elizabeth II as Queen of Fiji and head of state—with the official title of Dominion of Fiji. Following two military coups in 1987, led by Lieutenant-Colonel Sitiveni Rabuka, Fiji became a republic.

The number of states headed by Elizabeth II varied during her 70 years as queen, altogether seeing her as sovereign of a total of 32 independent countries during this period. In her capacity as Queen of the United Kingdom (including the British overseas territories), she was also monarch of three Crown Dependencies— the Channel Islands of Guernsey and Jersey (as the Duke of Normandy), and the Isle of Man (as the Lord of Mann). As Queen of New Zealand, she was also monarch of two associated states—the Cook Islands and Niue—after they acquired this status in 1965 and 1974, respectively.

The situations in two countries differ from the others. The government of the unrecognised state of Rhodesia proclaimed its allegiance to Elizabeth II as Queen of Rhodesia from 1965 to 1970. However, she did not accept either the role or the title and it was not accepted or recognised by any other state. Fiji became a republic through a military coup in 1987, after which its Great Council of Chiefs continued to recognise Elizabeth II as queen, or Paramount Chief of Fiji, until the council's disestablishment on 14 March 2012. This was only a ceremonial title, with no role in government.

Fiji, also known as the Dominion of Fiji, was an independent state from 1970 to 1987, a Commonwealth realm in which the British monarch, Elizabeth II, remained head of state as Queen of Fiji, represented by the Governor-General. The state was the successor of the British Colony of Fiji which was given independence in October 1970 and it survived until the Republic of Fiji was proclaimed on 6 October 1987 after two military coups, at which time Queen Elizabeth II was removed as head of state, albeit, without any consent from the people of Fiji themselves.

During this time, Fiji's highest court was the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, which was above the Supreme Court of Fiji in the Fijian judicial system.