  fiji became a british crown colony in 1874, and an independent dominion in the commonwealth in 1970. queen elizabeth ii remained the head of state, holding the title of queen of fiji until 1987, when she formally abdicated following two military coups. from 1874 to 1987 the monarch's functions were exercised in fiji by his or her representative, the governor (up to 1970), and, following independence, by the governor-general. ==governors-general of fiji (1970â1987)== {| class="wikitable" ! from ! to !style="width: 40%;"| name !style="width: 20%;"| comments |- | 10 october 1970 | 13 january 1973 | sir robert sidney foster | |- | 13 january 1973 | 12 february 1983 | ratu sir george cakobau | served as governor-general during the 1977 constitutional crisis |- | 12 february 1983 | 6 october 1987 | ratu sir penaia ganilau | formally resigned on 15 october 1987, after the 1987 coups d'Ã©tat |} ==see also== *governor of fiji *list of heads of state of fiji *monarchy of fiji *president of fiji  
Fiji_and_the_Commonwealth_of_Nations Governors-General_of_Fiji History_of_Fiji Lists_of_governors-general Politics_of_Fiji