by Tusi Tala, Staff Writer
King Charles III and Queen Camilla have arrived in Apia, Samoa.
Upon landing, the King received a guard of honour at the airport before being taken to his accommodations in Siumu. Local villagers welcomed him with lanterns along the roads.
The King is set to speak at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) on Friday. According to the royal office, his agenda in Samoa will align with one of the meeting’s primary themes, “a resilient environment,” as well as its focus on oceanic issues.
The couple will be formally welcomed through an ‘Ava Fa’atupu ceremony and will engage with locals to showcase Samoan traditions and culture.
Additionally, Charles will participate in the CHOGM Business Forum to learn about advancements in sustainable urbanization and investment strategies aimed at addressing climate change. He plans to visit a mangrove forest, a National Park, and Samoa’s Botanical Garden, where he will plant a tree to inaugurate a new section called ‘The King’s Garden.’
Queen Camilla will visit an aoga faifeau to observe how students learn literacy skills and will also meet with the Samoa Victim Support Group, which aids survivors of domestic violence and sexual abuse.
Since 1969, King Charles III has visited 44 out of 53 Commonwealth countries, often returning to many of them. His prior visits to the Pacific included representing his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, at Fiji’s independence celebrations in 1970 and touring Papua New Guinea, Australia, and New Zealand during the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012.
Queen Elizabeth II also made several trips to the Pacific throughout her reign.