King Charles was snapped grimacing today as he watched the “painful” process of having a traditional Samoan tattoo etched onto a woman’s skin in Samoa.
The King, who is on his 11-day tour of Australia and Samoa with Queen Camilla, took a keen interest in Tatau, which is the sacred art of Samoan tattooing.
John Lemisio showed him his family of tattooists during His Majesty’s Samoa Cultural Village visit in the country’s capital, Apia.
The King asked if it was “painful” and John laughed and said: “It’s very painful, very painful.”
When Charles asked: “Does the pain last very long?” John replied: “It is a lifetime of pain.”
Asking: “Do you need a drink for that?” The King was told: “No. No medicine.”
The tattooist went on to say: “Welcome to the house of pain, your majesty!”
The King replied: “Yes, it must be very painful.”
Each tattoo design is rich with meaning and represents personal stories, heritage and social status.
As a result, Samoan tattoo artists must have great cultural knowledge as well as skill.
Charles was dressed Samoan-style for his visit today as he ditched his trademark suit for a short-sleeved white jacket and trousers he designed himself.
Earlier in the day, Samoa’s head of state and his village afforded the King the highest accolade by staging an ava ceremony where the drink, prepared by the statesman’s daughter from powdered ava root and representing community unity, was presented to Charles.
The ceremony was held at the National University of Samoa, in a falesamoa, a large open-air covered hall made from huge timbers and guarded by a ring of malosi ole nuu, bare-chested orators armed with sticks of their office and wearing sarongs and garlands.
