King Charles delivered a landmark speech at his first Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting since becoming Head of the Commonwealth this morning.
He paid tribute to his late mother Queen Elizabeth II, who dedicated much of her life to the Commonwealth and its prosperity.
Addressing Commonwealth leaders, foreign ministers and dignitaries the King said: “The Commonwealth mattered a great deal to my late mother… her commitment has helped to shape my own life.”
Today he is wearing a beige suit and tie and ceremonial lei (garland), after ditching his formal attire yesterday for a more relaxed short-sleeved bush jacket and trousers in keeping with Samoan culture and more fitting with the humid temperatures.
On Thursday, the King and Queen kicked off their first full day of engagements, conducting 10 visits between them.
Their day began with a royal ‘ava ceremony, which saw them presented with ceremonial garlands, a battered pig and sip a symbolic drink.
Later in Moata’a village the King was bestowed a new title by its chief Tofaeono Lupati Fuatai who urged the monarch to “take a small part of Samoa away” with him after he was made Tui Taumeasina or King of Taumeasina.
Villagers gathered for the ceremony, which was similar to the earlier engagement as the King was presented with another ava as well as new floral lei’s.
The chief later spoke of his admiration for the King and his efforts to highlight climate change throughout his life.
“We hope that the King takes a small part of Samoa away with him,” he said.
“Once he has the title of Tui-Taumeasina we also become part of him and he will be connected to our people and our lands forever.”
The Polynesian country of Samoa is highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change including tropical cyclones and storm surges, flooding, and more severe and longer-lasting droughts like other Small Island Developing States.
Moata’a village was chosen to welcome the royals after the area was badly affected by flooding in 2018 and in response the community’s council developed a plan for future natural disasters and has established a mangrove conservation area which the King visited.
The chief said: “The King is the perfect advocate for us as a nation. Climate change is real, it is now and we must urge the world to acknowledge how perilous it is for nations such as ours.”