In the darkness, dozens of people gathered along a narrow road near the Samoan fishing village of Siumu. They waited eagerly, standing by a sign with a portrait of King Charles III, hoping to catch a glimpse of the real monarch.
Excitement filled the crowd as a motorcade approached, carrying the first British king to visit a Pacific Island nation. Some waved as the car windows briefly rolled down, allowing a few lucky onlookers to see the king’s face. Then, King Charles and his wife, Queen Camilla, were gone. The royal couple had just arrived from Australia earlier that evening.
Numio Faoagali, a local garbage collector from Siumu, spent three days cleaning and decorating his house with Union flags and bunting, hoping the king might notice. “It’s the first time to see the king. We’ve only seen him on TV, not in Samoa,” he said. King Charles is in Samoa to lead a major Commonwealth meeting with leaders from countries that once had ties to Britain.
While his visit brought joy, it also sparked discussions about the role of the British crown in its former territories. But for now, the people of Siumu were thrilled that their village was chosen to host the monarch.
Madeleine A. Tofaeono-Galo shared that her cousin traveled from the other side of the island just to see the king. Apia, Samoa’s capital, was busy with final preparations to welcome King Charles, world leaders, and thousands of delegates for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).
Ataona Tusi Fafetai, the paramount chief of Siumu, said, “We are excited. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.” He added, “We have pride in our values like hospitality, respect, and love. This is our chance to show the world who we are as Samoan people.”
This is the first time a Pacific Island is hosting the biennial Commonwealth summit. Over half of the Commonwealth’s members are small countries, many of them island nations facing the threat of rising sea levels.
Climate change is a key topic at the summit. King Charles, who has long championed environmental causes, is expected to lead discussions on an Ocean Declaration aimed at tackling the issue. Fafetai emphasized the need for support in addressing climate change and hoped the summit would bring solutions to help the Pacific Islands.
The summit will also face challenges as member countries address difficult topics like colonization. Reparations for slavery have been a growing topic, but British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government has said that reparations will not be on the summit’s agenda. Britain will also not offer an apology for slavery.
Despite these challenges, the summit is expected to bring together delegations from 56 countries, representing a significant market for British businesses.
As the event unfolds, observers will watch closely to see if King Charles can continue the unifying role his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, played in the Commonwealth.
