Royal news live: King Charles drinks narcotic kava tea in Samoa ceremony ahead of slavery reparations debate
The kava brew was part of the High Chief ceremony bestowed on the King
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Adorned in a large red neck garment and presented with a local narcotic brew, the King enjoyed a truly royal welcome as he was declared the “High Chief” of his Pacific realm in a traditional Samoan village.
Surrounded by tattooed and bare-chested Samoans in traditional garments, Charles and Queen Camilla appeared delighted by the colourful ceremony as they visited the Moata’a Village on day five of the 11 day tour of Australia and Samoa.
The King, dressed in white safari-style gear, was offered a mildly-intoxicating narcotic root drink in a half coconut, known locally as “kava”, a vital element of Pacific culture.
Charles enjoyed the drink in moderation - after Australia’s former deputy prime minister was hospitalised in 2022 after he drank too much of a local brew in a similar ceremony in Micronesia.
It comes as Sir Keir Starmer touches down in Samoa for the Commonwealth talks, with slavery reparations likely to be discussed among the leaders.
Commonwealth leaders are expected to agree plans to discuss reparations as they look at an agreement which could open up the conversation through a communique.
Downing Street said slavery reparations won’t be on the agenda, with Sir Keir calling for the leaders to instead be “facing forward”.
Charles and Camilla welcomed to Samoa with traditional tea ceremony
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King Charles lands in Samoa to ceremonial welcome ahead of Commonwealth summit
King Charles’s poignant comments about Australian Indigenous people before senator accused him of ‘genocide’
King Charles heckled: What Indigenous Australian artefacts does Britain still possess?
King Charles lands in Samoa to ceremonial welcome ahead of Commonwealth summit
King Charles lands in Samoa to ceremonial welcome ahead of Commonwealth summit
King Charles and Queen Camilla landed in Samoa to a full ceremonial welcome ahead of the Commonwealth summit. The monarch touched down in Samoa on Wednesday evening (22 October), to be greeted on the red carpet by a Guard of Honour. The royal couple waved as they stepped out of their plane at Faleolo International Airport. Prime Minister Afioga Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa and Foreign Secretary David Lammy greeted them at the steps before they were introduced to a number of dignitaries. The King was invited to inspect the Guard of Honour, which was composed of Samoan police officers as the country has no armed forces.
Lidia Thorpe claims she swore allegiance to late Queen’s ‘hairs’ not ‘heirs'
Independent Senator Lidia Thorpe has insisted that she did not break her parliamentary oath by protesting King Charles’s appearance.
The Indigenous senator made headlines around the world when she accused the monarch, 75, of genocide and shouted: “You’re not my King!”
Ms Thorpe took her oath in 2022 when Queen Elizabeth II was still the reigning monarch.
She told ABC on Wednesday: “I swore allegiance to the Queen’s hairs if you listen close enough. It wasn’t her ‘heirs’. It was her ‘hairs’.”
King Charles’s visit to Samoa ‘means a lot’ to locals
Locals in a small Samoan village have spoken of their excitement ahead of King Charles and Queen Camilla’s arrival.
Tuuu Schwenke, who lives in Siumu, said she could have never dreamed of the monarch visiting and said it means a great deal to the village, where the population is around 2,000 people.
“Who doesn’t want to meet the king?” she said, smiling.
“No one ever dreamed about the king coming to our village and knowing that he will be staying here is something that we take pride in and look forward to. This means a lot to us.”
Australian senator says King Charles has ‘stolen wealth’
The Australian senator who dramatically protested King Charles’s Parliament House appearance has said the monarch has “stolen wealth”.
Lidia Thorpe, who accused the King of genocide and said that he was not her monarch, made the comments in the wake of her controversial outburst.
She told ABC on Wednesday: “I’m sorry Charlie, but you can’t come here and think that you can say a few nice words about our people while you still have stolen goods.
“You are in receipt of stolen goods, which makes you complicit in theft.”
Ms Thorpe, an Indigenous mother and grandmother, added: “This country wants to swear allegiance to a king from another country whose ancestors have been responsible for massacres, so many massacres in this country, killing our children and our women.
“Why would I, with my hand on my heart, kneel to an oppressor?”
Oliver Dowden pays tribute to King Charles during PMQs
The shadow deputy prime minister Oliver Dowden took the opportunity to pay tribute to King Charles during Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday.
During a fiery exchange with Angela Rayner, he described the king as someone “we can all agree is a hardworking person”.
The comments come amid the monarch’s ongoing tour of Australia and Samoa, which he has been praised for undertaking during his ongoing cancer battle.
Samoa rolls out the red carpet for Charles and Camilla
The prime minister of Samoa gave a red carpet welcome to King Charles and Queen Camilla when they arrived in the country on Wednesday.
Upon arrival, Charles, dressed in a grey suit, and Camilla, in a pink dress, were greeted by dignitaries who looked delighted to welcome them to the island country.
Royal family celebrates ‘spectacular’ end to Australia tour
The royal family have celebrated the “spectacular” end to King Charles and Queen Camilla’s tour of Australia.
They did so by sharing a video of the thousands of people who had turned up to greet the royals at Sydney Opera House.
“It was a spectacular end to Their Majesties’ visit to Australia at the iconic Sydney Opera House,” an official statement said.
“Thank you to all who came out to show their support – and for so many special memories.”
Farewell Australia 👋🇦🇺
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) October 23, 2024
It was a spectacular end to Their Majesties’ visit to Australia at the iconic Sydney Opera House. 🤩 Thank you to all who came out to show their support - and for so many special memories. 🫶 pic.twitter.com/Ki8WMD9gzS
King Charles makes cheeky joke to Aussie rugby player
King Charles could not help but make a cheeky joke to a rugby player on the Australian leg of his ongoing royal tour.
The monarch, 75, met former professional rugby league player, Mark Geyer, at a barbecue in Sydney and remarked that he looked like could “still play”.
He proceeded to ask Mr Geyer why he had to retire and was informed that it was an issue with his groin.
The King is reported to have replied with a laugh: “I know how you feel!”
King Charles lands in Samoa to ceremonial welcome
King Charles and Queen Camilla landed in Samoa to a full ceremonial welcome ahead of the Commonwealth summit.
The monarch touched down in Samoa on Wednesday evening (22 October), to be greeted on the red carpet by a Guard of Honour.
The royal couple waved as they stepped out of their plane at Faleolo International Airport.
Prime Minister Afioga Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa and Foreign Secretary David Lammy greeted them at the steps before they were introduced to a number of dignitaries.
The King was invited to inspect the Guard of Honour, which was composed of Samoan police officers as the country has no armed forces.
In pictures: Charles and Camilla land in Samoa
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