King and Queen gifted a whole pig on state visit to Samoa
By Hannah Furness
Samoa: The King and Queen have been honoured with a traditional ceremony on the first day of their state visit to Samoa.
Locals gifted them a whole pig and offered the King a drink from a polished coconut shell in a spectacular ritual.
King Charles’ first ceremonial drink at a spectacular welcome ceremony in Samoa.Credit: Getty Images
The couple has begun a three-day tour of the Pacific island, where the King will officially open the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.
After arriving for the traditional ’ava ceremony – Samoa’s equivalent of Fiji’s kava ceremony – and taking their places on throne-like chairs, the King and Queen were welcomed to sacred ground. They were told the ritual was the “highest protocol of respect” and a “symbol of friendship and safe passage”.
The King, who had swapped his usual suit and tie for a bush jacket with blue trimmings made by the Samoan School of Fine Art, took a sip of the ’ava drink, made from the dried roots of the native kava plant mixed with water.
Charles and Camilla were offered gifts including hand-woven fabric and a whole pig, wrapped and presented on a pallet carried by four chiefs. The pig will be returned to the village, the home of Samoa’s head of state, as a gift for local families.
At the National University of Samoa, in a “fave” – an open-air pavilion with a roof – the King and Queen were met by men and village chiefs lining the paths. Wearing red and patterned “ie lavalava” cloth wraps, they stood with carved staffs and necklaces of dried red fruit.
The special ceremony is conducted only for monarchs and was last held for visiting Maori elders and dignitaries in 2023.
The King and Queen were hosted by Head of State of the Independent State of Samoa, Le Afioga ia Tuimaleali’ifano Va’aleto’a Sualauvi II, and ceremonial attendants from his village.
The King was adorned with a garland made of the dried fruit from the pandanus tree, while the Queen’s wore one made of flowers.
The pig presented as a gift to Charles and Camilla.Credit: Getty Images
They were welcomed with a short symbolic debate between the tulafale – talking chiefs – to decide who would lead a welcome oration, followed by speeches in Samoan.
Large ’ava roots were presented by chiefs, who let out screams as they ran around the building and broke the thick stalks and leaves from the plant.
The ’ava is prepared by the daughter of the chief, who sat cross-legged on the floor with a large bowl in front of her to sieve and mix.
A server then scooped the liquid, throwing some into the air, and presented it ritually to the King to drink.
The King walks with Samoan Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata’afa on arrival in the island nation. Credit: Getty Images
Afterwards, the King smiled and said, “May God bless this ’ava” and “la manuia”, which means “be prosperous”.
Later on Thursday, the royal couple visited the village of Moata’a, where Charles was made “Tui Taumeasina”, or high chief.
The Telegraph, London