The King and Queen of England recently bid farewell to Samoa after their four-day state visit to the island country. During their final day, King Charles III and a teary-eyed Queen Camilla were honored in a heartfelt farewell ceremony that captured the vibrant spirit of Samoan culture.
Rain poured down heavily as the couple arrived for the event. Shielded under umbrellas, King Charles III and Queen Camilla made their way along a damp red carpet to a stage that was decorated with colorful woven mats and fresh floral garlands.
The King, who received the honorary title of To’aiga-o-Tumua of the village of Siumu, and the Queen were then seated on large golden thrones and welcomed with words of honor by village elders dressed in traditional attire.
During the farewell, the royals observed an “ava ceremony,” which is an ancient rite involving the preparation of a drink from the ava plant. In a solemn moment, the specially prepared concoction was presented to King Charles III in a polished coconut shell, which the senior royal graciously accepted and sipped from.
Amid these cultural exchanges, villagers braved the rain, performing for the royals in a series of dances and presentations.
One highlight of the farewell was a dynamic war dance demonstration, where dancers wielded flaming sticks — a sight that left the royals both captivated and amused.
During the event, King Charles III highlighted his connection to Samoa and his gratitude for the region’s unwavering hospitality, “I shall always remain devoted to this part of the world and hope that I survive long enough to come back again and see you.”
He also noted his admiration for the locals who had gone out of their way to welcome them by decorating roadsides and leaving gifts at their hotel daily.
In another touching moment, a Samoan chief addressed the King directly and acknowledged the royal family’s legacy in Samoa by saying, “Your Papa Prince Philip was here, so were your brothers. So thank you for making the time. Your royal visit has lifted our house.”
According to reports, the heartfelt farewell also involved the exchange of gifts, which included a special embroidered mat and fly whisks.
When it was time to leave, the couple made their way to the Faleolo VIP Terminal in a motorcade, where they briefly greeted the Deputy Prime Minister of Samoa, the Minister of Environment, and the Police Commissioner.
The King and Queen were then pictured waving goodbye to those who had gathered to send them off from the steps of the Royal Australian Air Force jet.
While the farewell ceremony was rich with vibrant traditions and heartfelt gestures, it was Queen Camilla’s tears that captured the attention of netizens.
At one point, she was also seen using her hands to wipe underneath her eyes, while shielding her face with an ornate fan. Video footage posted on TikTok by the Daily Mail’s royals account offered followers a closer look at her emotional response and contextualized Queen Camilla’s tears.
In the post’s caption, the account explained that Queen Camilla began crying when Samoan leaders paid tribute to King Charles III and mentioned his ongoing battle with cancer.
She later cried tears of joy as she laughed at how the rain had disrupted some of the proceedings by causing technical difficulties.
The sight of Queen Camilla’s teary-eyed expression stirred a wave of sympathetic reactions from netizens, who took to social media to express their concern and support. “so [sic] sad for her 😢,” remarked an observer.
Another wondered, “why is she crying [sic] 😢,” while someone else penned, “Bless her!” “Aww what happened [sic] – I hope she’s OK!” expressed a social media user. Echoing the sentiment, another reiterated, “Hope she [sic] okay 🥰.”
Throughout their visit to Samoa, Queen Camilla and King Charles III experienced a warm and culturally rich itinerary, packed with events that highlighted the island’s traditions and natural beauty.
One of the notable affairs, aside from the farewell ceremony, was the royal dinner hosted for Commonwealth Heads of Government at the Robert Louis Stevenson Museum.
This exclusive gathering saw the involvement of both Samoan and British teams. Chefs, artisans, and officials collaborated to create a memorable evening in the gardens of the museum, which is dedicated to the famous late “Treasure Island” author.
Earlier in their stay, King Charles III demonstrated his dedication to environmental conservation by planting a tree in a new garden designed in his honor.
The tree, which is part of the island’s “Talafalu for Pepe a’e” scheme, was specifically chosen to help support the endangered Samoan swallowtail butterfly.
Reportedly, King Charles III asked local staff to monitor the tree’s growth and requested regular updates and photographs to witness it flourish under Samoa’s tropical climate.
Source: Amomama
