Royal news live: King Charles drinks narcotic kava tea in Samoa ceremony ahead of slavery reparations debate

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.

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.”

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 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.

As King Charles arrived in Samoa for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, he and other delegates were met with striking ads calling for action on plastic pollution.

The campaign, led by Australian billionaire Andrew Forrest’s Minderoo Foundation, features a confronting image of a child vomiting plastic, displayed prominently at Samoa’s Faleolo International Airport.

Timed to coincide with the British monarch’s arrival, the campaign pushes for a global plastics treaty to be placed on the meeting’s agenda, 9News reports.

“A global plastics treaty is not a nice-to-have – it is a need-to-have,” said Jay Weatherill, the foundation’s director.

He highlighted the health risks faced by the 2.5 billion citizens of Commonwealth nations, many of whom are under 30.

The Minderoo Foundation has been advocating for such a treaty for two years, warning that current strategies like recycling and reducing consumer demand are insufficient.

King Charles and Queen Camilla have left Australia for Samoa where the British monarch will address a Commonwealth summit and be given the title of high chief.

The couple are expected to be greeted by hundreds of people in the Pacific island nation which is holding its first Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in capital Apia this week.

Preparations for the summit and the royal trip have been going on for months. Hotels have been renovated and roads and streets where the couple is expected to visit have been spruced up, reports my colleague Shweta Sharma.

King Charles should be prepared to show off his dance moves on his two-day whirlwind visit to Samoa.

Freddie Tuilagi made sure of that when he visited St James’ Palace recently wearing nothing but a bark cloth wrap and a necklace historically worn by orator chiefs.

Charles, in a blue suit and carefully knotted tie, grinned while gamely trying to follow along as Samoa’s honorary consul to the UK moved through the steps of a traditional dance.

“He loves it. He said he wants to learn the dance,” Tuilagi said afterward, showing off his moves once again.

Tuilagi, who moved to Britain to play professional rugby, said the 75-year-old king can expect more of the same when he arrives in the South Pacific Island nation on Wednesday.

The Pacific island of Niue has questioned why it was excluded from this week’s Commonwealth leaders meeting, with its prime minister calling for change.

Following its celebration of 50 years of self-government on Saturday, King Charles issued a congratulatory video.

Known informally as the Rock of Polynesia, Niue was settled by Samoans in 900AD and has a population of around 1,500.

Yet as Samoa hosts the 75th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, where leaders and officials from 56 countries with roots in Britain’s empire are gathering in the Pacific for the first time, Niue, a realm of New Zealand, was not invited.

“There is no use being Commonwealth family yet we can’t attend these meetings. It’s a bit weird,” said prime minister Dalton Tagelagi in an interview.

“We have put through questions on how to become a member.”

The remote island, 635km (400 miles) south of Samoa, was sighted in 1774 by British explorer James Cook. He named it Savage Island, and Niue became a British Protectorate 126 years later.

The King and Queen have said they “can’t wait” to arrive in Samoa for a state visit and experience the “warmth” of the country’s ancient traditions.

Charles and Camilla ended their six-day tour of Australia and boarded a Royal Australian Air Force (Raaf) plane bound for the Polynesian nation.

Samoa’s prime minister Afioga Fiame Naomi Mataafa will be waiting to greet the royal couple when they step off their jet for the final leg of their overseas trip.

Soon after the Raaf plane took off the couple posted a message on social media under their names.

They said: “As we head towards Apia, we can’t wait to visit Samoa for the first time together and to experience the warmth of ancient traditions with your remarkable people. Feiloa’i ma le manuia!

- Charles R & Camilla R”

The tweet included a few words in Samoan loosely translated as “looking forward to meeting the Samoan people”.