Britain’s King Charles III arrived in Samoa on yesterday for a landmark state visit, where he will attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM). This marks the first time the biennial meeting is held in the Pacific islands region and the first time a British monarch attends.
Over 3,000 delegates have gathered in the capital, Apia, to discuss pressing global issues, with climate change at the forefront. The meeting’s theme, “One Resilient Common Future: Transforming our Common Wealth,” emphasizes resilience and sustainable development. Leaders will also finalize the Oceans Declaration, aiming to promote healthy and sustainable oceans.
King Charles and Queen Camilla arrived from Australia, where the king’s visit was met with protests by some Indigenous Australians. In Samoa, the royal couple will attend CHOGM’s opening ceremony on Friday and host a dinner for Commonwealth leaders. The king will also host a reception for new heads of government and participate in the CHOGM Business Forum on sustainable urbanization.
Samoa has been passionately preparing for the visit, with villages decorating the route to Apia. The royal couple will depart on Saturday. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is also attending CHOGM, where the issue of reparations for the trans-Atlantic slave trade may arise in discussions.