By james art The king was dressed in Samoan style for a day of ceremonies welcoming him and the queen to the island nation for a state visit.
Charles swapped his trademark suit for a white short-sleeved jacket and trousers of his own design as he was awarded a new title, sipped a symbolic drink and was presented with a feasting pig.
The head of state of Samoa and his village gave the king the highest honor by organizing an awa ceremony where the drink, made by the statesman’s daughter from powdered awa root and representing the unity of the community, was presented to Charles.
The ceremony took place at the National University of Samoa, in Falesamoa, a large covered open-air hall made of huge wooden beams and guarded by a circle of tiki ole nuu, bare-chested orators armed with clubs from their office and wearing sarongs and garlands.
Following custom, Charles poured a few drops of awa before taking a deep sip from a cup made from a coconut shell, watched by village elders and dignitaries including Samoan Prime Minister Afioga Fiame Naomi Mata’afa and Foreign Minister David Lamy.
Charles wore a Royal Navy jacket-style suit made by Anderson & Shepperd that featured fabrics from the Samoan School of Art.
The jacket was similar to the eli, an elegant short-sleeved casual shirt worn by Samoan men, and Charles’ appearance was even reflected in the clothing of his protection officers and some of his aides, who wore colorful shirts.
At the end of the ceremony, a garland of dried fruits from the pandanus tree was placed around the king’s neck, while the queen had a floral garland, and they were presented with an array of gifts of finely woven mats next to the pig’s carcass.
Later in the village of Moata’a, its chief Tofaeono Lupati Fuatai urged the monarch to “take a little part of Samoa” with him after he was made Tui Taumeasina, or King of Taumeasina.
Villagers gathered for the ceremony, similar to the earlier event, and the chief later spoke of his admiration for the king and his efforts to highlight climate change throughout his life.
He said of the honor bestowed on Charles: “We hope the King will take a little bit of Samoa with him.
“Once he receives the title of Tui-Taumeasina, we also become a part of him and he will be linked forever to our people and our lands.”
The Polynesian nation of Samoa is highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, including tropical cyclones and storm surges, floods and more severe and prolonged droughts, similar to other small island developing states.
The village of Moata’a was chosen to host the royals after the area was badly affected by floods in 2018, and in response the community council developed a plan for future natural disasters and created a mangrove conservation area, which the king visited.
The chief said: “The king is the perfect advocate for us as a nation. Climate change is real, it is now, and we must call on the world to recognize how dangerous it is to nations like ours.