On a rainy day in Samoa, His Royal Highness, King Charles III and Queen Camilla arrived to visit the STA Village during CHOGM. Even though the weather was wet, it didn’t stop the royal visit. The village was made just for this special day, showing the everyday life of the people in Samoa.
Tuala, the Deputy Prime Minister of Samoa, welcomed the royals in an open fale, a traditional Samoan house. After his speech, a village guide took the King and Queen around.
At their first stop, young women were weaving a fine mat. The Queen showed great interest in the weaving, and both the King and Queen were impressed when the women showed them a completed fine mat.
Next, they visited men who were carving. The men made small wooden bowls, and one of them was shaped like a turtle. Other men were making sennit, which is a strong cord made from coconut husks. The King was especially interested in a flying whisk made from sennit.
Then they went to see women making tapa cloth. The women explained how they make it and gave the Queen a small tapa cloth as a gift.
One of the most striking parts of the tour was the tattooing demonstration. The tattooist and his helpers showed how they do the traditional Samoan tattoos. A spokesperson explained that the process is very painful and can take about two weeks to finish for a man.
Outside the fale, members of Samoa’s rugby team were waiting in the rain. They performed the Siva Tau, a traditional war dance, for the royals. After the performance, the King and Queen took photos with the rugby team and the cricket team.
As the visit came to an end, the royals were greeted by schoolchildren lined up to shake their hands. The elders sang “Tofa mai feleni,” or “Goodbye, my friend,” as the royal couple left the village.
