King Charles and Queen Camilla have arrived in Samoa for a four-day state visit, where the King will, for the first time, preside over a gathering of Commonwealth leaders.

The royal couple was greeted by Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata'afa at Faleolo International Airport, where a red carpet was rolled out despite strong winds and last-minute preparations.

The Royal Samoan Police Band performed as the King and Queen stepped off the plane and greeted local officials. The visit follows their six-day tour of Australia, which ended on Tuesday. Prior to their arrival, the couple posted on social media, expressing their excitement to experience Samoa’s ancient traditions and warmth. Their message included a few words in Samoan, conveying their anticipation to meet the local people.

Samoa, an archipelago in the South Pacific, is hosting the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), with the theme "One Resilient Common Future." As the head of the Commonwealth, King Charles will formally open the event, which will also be attended by UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. The King last participated in a CHOGM event in Rwanda in 2022, representing Queen Elizabeth II. He will be joined in Samoa by Foreign Secretary David Lammy.

The route from the airport to the capital city of Apia was meticulously prepared for the royal visit. Each village along the way adopted a different Commonwealth country, with homes decorated in corresponding national flags. Trees and rooftops were adorned with lights, while repurposed car tires painted in bright colors were used as flower pots.

Climate change, a cause that King Charles has long championed, is expected to dominate discussions at CHOGM, especially as Samoa and neighboring Pacific islands are particularly vulnerable to rising sea levels. Although reparations are not officially on the agenda, the topic is likely to be raised, given the historical ties between many Commonwealth countries and British colonization. The UK government has stated there will be no formal apology or reparations.

The King and Queen’s arrival in Samoa follows the conclusion of their Australian tour, which included a series of engagements on Tuesday. They visited the National Centre of Indigenous Excellence, a food bank, a social housing project, and participated in a literacy initiative and community barbecue. The couple also met prominent cancer researchers and marked the 50th anniversary of the Sydney Opera House.

During their time in Australia, the King officially launched an Australian arm of The King's Foundation, an organization promoting sustainability and traditional skills training. However, the visit was not without controversy. On Monday, Australian Senator Lidia Thorpe interrupted the King's address at Parliament House, accusing him of genocide and claiming, "This is not your land, you are not my King." Thorpe's protest was dismissed by Aboriginal elder Aunty Violet Sheridan, who called the interruption "disrespectful."

Despite the protest, the royal couple continued with their schedule, meeting hundreds of well-wishers gathered outside the ceremony. The King and Queen’s visit to Samoa is expected to further strengthen ties with the Pacific island nation as they lead the Commonwealth in discussions on pressing global issues. Photo by Stephen Glauser, Wikimedia commons.