King Charles III and Queen Camilla hosted a Reception and Dinner for Commonwealth Heads of Government at the Robert Louis Stevenson Museum in Apia on October 25th, following the Opening Ceremony of CHOGM in Samoa. King Charles III and Queen Camilla are on a State Visit to Samoa ahead of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Samoa this week, following their Tour of Australia this week, where they spent three days in Sydney and Canberra.
King Charles III and Queen Camilla hosted the CHOGM Reception and Dinner for Commonwealth Heads of Government at the Robert Louis Stevenson Museum in Apia.
As Head of the Commonwealth, The King has addressed Commonwealth leaders at the official Opening Ceremony of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Samoa.
King Charles III and Queen Camilla were greeted by Samoa’s Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata’afa as they arrived at Faleolo International Airport in Samoa last night.
The following morning, King Charles III and Queen Camilla received a formal welcome in an ‘Ava Fa’atupu Ceremony at the National University of Samoa, where the King was offered an ‘Ava drink during the Royal ‘Ava ceremony, reserved only for monarchs by the Head of State of the Independent State of Samoa, Le Afioga ia Tuimaleali ifano Va aleto’a Sualauvi II and his wife, Masiofo Fa amausili Leinafo.
The King takes a swig of ‘ava drink during the ceremony in the Samoan head of state’s home village. He accepted the drink made from roots, tipped a small amount onto the ground and said “May God Bless this ‘ava” and “la manuia”
The chief’s youngest daughter, Maria Leinafo Tuimalealiifano, 30, prepared the ‘Ava drink. She has tattoos from her thighs to her knees that indicate seniority.
The King and Queen were then presented with ceremonial garlands, known as lei. The King’s is made of the dried fruit from the pandanus tree and The Queen’s is a beautiful floral garland.
Afterwards, King Charles attended the formal launch of The King’s Commonwealth Fellowships Programme at the National University of Samoa.
King Charles and Queen Camilla then went to the Moata’a Village Church Hall in Samoa for a traditional welcome ceremony performed by the High Chiefs of the village, where the King was made a ‘paramount chief’ of the village and Queen Camilla a member of the women’s committee. They were also given gifts of fine mats, staffs and fly whips.
King Charles III met with Head of State of the Independent State of Samoa, Le Afioga ia Tuimaleali ifano Va aleto’a Sualauvi II during a visit to the Moata’a Village Mangrove Restoration Walk to hear about the importance of community-led efforts to restore and protect marine ecosystems, while Queen Camilla and Commonwealth Secretary-General, Baroness Scotland of Asthal attended the CHOGM Women’s Forum Side Event at the Tanoa Tusitala Hotel.
