King Charles III will be honoured with the Samoan title of Tui Taumeasina during his three-day visit to Samoa, starting Wednesday. Lenatai Victor Tamapua, a Samoan chief and member of parliament, plans to bestow the title as part of a traditional ceremonial welcome for the king and Queen Camilla on Thursday.
During the visit, King Charles will also tour a mangrove reserve, where he will witness firsthand the effects of rising sea levels caused by climate change. Tamapua highlighted the alarming increase in “king tides,” which are now twice as high as they were decades ago, threatening Samoan communities.
King Charles, who has long championed environmental causes, has previously called climate change the greatest threat to humanity. His visit to Samoa follows a six-day tour of Australia and coincides with the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, where climate change will be a key topic of discussion.