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”.
King Charles submits plan to turn Balmoral into fairytale wedding venue
Childhood dreams of a royal wedding may now become reality, as the King looks to open up the historic Balmoral estate to the public.
On the banks of Aberdeenshire’s River Dee, the world-famous royal Scottish residence has been a private property of the monarch since 1852, serving as the death place of the late Queen Elizabeth in 2022.
In what could become a dream-come-true for royal enthusiasts looking to tie the knot, Charles has now submitted plans to allow a part of the Balmoral estate, the Queen’s Building, to be used as a fairytale wedding venue and reception space for other events.
Read the full report:
King Charles submits plan to turn Balmoral into fairytale wedding venue
The King’s Scottish Balmoral estate is already open to the public on certain days
Watch: Alpaca sneezes on King Charles during walkabout in Australia
Princess Diana biographer Meghan Markle verdict: ‘She’s flawless about getting it all wrong’
The former editor-in-chief of Vanity Fair has given a withering assessment of Meghan Markle, claiming she is “flawless about getting it all wrong”.
Tina Brown, who led the magazine from for eight years until 1992, is no stranger to ranting about the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, having previously dubbed the couple as being “addicted to drama” and branding their exit from the royal family as a “disaster”.
She has now continued her tirade as she laid into Meghan’s judgement on The Ankler podcast. “The trouble with Meghan is that she has the worst judgment of anyone in the entire world,” she told podcast host Janice Min.
“She’s flawless about getting it all wrong.”
Read the full report from The Independent’s Athena Stavrou:
Princess Diana biographer issues withering Meghan Markle verdict
Tina Brown previously accused Prince Harry and Meghan Markle as being ‘addicted to drama’
King and Queen meet cricket team, rugby team, and church school
King toils away deep into the night, Queen jokes
Long after the Queen has gone to sleep, the King can be found “toiling” away into the small hours.
That’s what Queen Camilla joked of her 75-year-old husband’s diligence, as she gave a speech praising the work ethic of women.
At an event in Samoa led by leading domestic abuse campaigners from around the world, Camilla told the audience the legend of the men and women who were tasked with thatching the roof of Samoan chief Tautunu’s house.
“Although they started at the same time, the women finished their side first, as they had laboured through the night, while the men slept,” she told attendees of the women’s forum event at the major summit for Commonwealth leaders in Samoa.
“As one whose husband is often toiling into the small hours, long after my head is on the pillow, I should stress there are plenty of exceptions,” she added.
“But the moral of the proverb is: Women will turn their hands successfully to any task that must be done; and will work hard until it is completed.”
King Charles sips on a local narcotic brew in ‘High Chief’ ceremony
King Charles has been presented a traditional narcotic brew as he was declared the ‘High Chief’ of his pacific realm in a traditional ceremony.
The King was visiting the Moata’a Village on the fifth day of his 11-day tour of Australia and Samoa.
Known as ‘ava’, the drink is a mildly intoxicating narcotic root drink, presented to Charles in a polished half-coconut.
In pictures: King Charles shelters from wet weather on National Park visit
Slave trade reparations could be discussed at Commonwealth meeting
Reparations for the slave trade could be discussed as Commonwealth heads of government convene in Samoa for the leaders’ summit.
British prime minister Sir Keir Starmer touched down Samoa overnight on Thursday for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (Chogm).
The 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, the BBC reported.
It comes despite Downing Street previously claiming the issue would not be on the agenda.
Mr Starmer said ahead of travelling to the Pacific island: "On the question of which way we're facing I think we should be facing forward," he told reporters.
“I've talked to a lot of our Commonwealth colleagues in the Commonwealth family and they're facing real challenges on things like climate in the here and now."
While reparations are not formally on the agenda, conversations on the wording for a communique are possible.
‘We do not pay reparations’
Britain’s prime minister Keir Starmer, who is attending the summit, has faced pressure from some lawmakers in the governing Labour Party to consider the prospect. But his government says it is not up for discussion.
“Reparations are not on the agenda for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting,” Sir Starmer’s spokesperson, Dave Pares, said ahead of the summit.
“The government’s position has not changed. We do not pay reparations.”Britain would not be offering an apology for slavery at the summit, Mr Pares said. He also rejected suggestions that the Commonwealth’s importance has diminished.
The summit would “bring together delegations from 56 countries representing a combined market for British business set to be worth $19.5 trillion by 2027,” Mr Pares said.
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