King Charles and Queen Camilla are attending a Heads of Government dinner in Samoa before jetting back to the UK. Their Majesties are marking the end of their royal tour at the dinner, which saw them spend five days in Australia before heading to the island.
While the King will be used to dinners and receptions like the following, the event is packed with Samoan culture – a new experience for both their Majesties. The monarch will be enjoying seasonal produce throughout the meal, set to include a salad of marinated local vegetables with lopa beans, carrot, and watercress hummus.
The King and Queen will then enjoy line-caught red snapper, wilted laupele, breadfruit fondants, and confit tomatoes. For dessert, attendees to the dinner will have coconut jam cheesecake, fresh mango, and papaya, along with Samoan vanilla ice creams.
A range of fine wines will also be on the menu from New Zealand and Australia. At the pre-dinner reception where speeches will be made, the King and other guests will be given the option of Stefano Lubiana 2011 Grande Vintage from Tasmania.
Tohu Whenua Awa Sauvignon Blanc 2022, the world’s first Māori owned and operated wine label, from New Zealand will then be served during dinner. Other wines available will include Henschke Stone Jar Tempranillo 2023 from Australia, produced on a biodynamic vineyard, and Forrest Botrytised Riesling 2019 from New Zealand.
As well as a creative menu for the important dinner to mark the end of the King and Queen’s royal tour, much attention has been given to the layout of the dining arrangements with locally crafted table decorations to represent Samoan culture.
This includes Tanoa Bowls, which are wooden hand carved bowls used to make the beverage made from the roots of the ava plant, and a Tanoa border design for the table.
This has been designed to signify the aims of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, which includes strengthening ‘Resilient societies and people, resilient democratic institutions, resilient environment, resilient economies.’
As well as this, the tables will have decorative rounds at the centres which are made through traditional printing methods at the EFKS School of Fine Arts and Museum. The napkins used across the evening have also been printed with a traditional Samoan design by the same school.
One of the most astonishing things at the dinner for the King will be the 18 carat gold, silver-gilt, ruby, enamel Commonwealth Mace. This was originally presented to The Queen in 1992 as Head of Commonwealth on the fortieth anniversary of her accession to the throne.
The Mace will sit on a hand made table designed by the EFKS School of Fine Arts and museum. The legs of the table have been especially crafted by the students to symbolize the and honour Samoan ancestors with the idea that ‘We stand on the shoulders of giants’. The table wood, which is once used to craft weapons, was used to represent the strength and wisdom of those who paved the way.
The dinner will also be accompanied by entertainment, with music being played at various points throughout the evening. A small representation from the Anofale Leadership and Mentorship Programme, which supports young women in protecting, promoting, and preserving Samona cultural heritage, will sing traditional Samoan songs as heads of Government arrive for dinner. These songs will also be sung throughout the pre-dinner reception.
Music will also be played by group Sol Fa, which has a background in community music education through the National University of Samoa for over 10 years. They will play background classical and traditional Samoan music throughout dinner.
The King and Queen Camilla will then fly home to the UK on Friday.