Photos: Samoa welcomes first British king to visit Pacific islands

Britain’s King Charles III arrived in Samoa on Wednesday for an historic state visit, where as head of the Commonwealth he will attend CHOGM – the biennial meeting of Commonwealth heads of government.

This is the first meeting of CHOGM in the Pacific islands region and the first attended by a British king.

Three-thousand delegates are gathered this week in the capital Apia with climate change dominant on their agenda and a theme of “One Resilient Common Future: Transforming our Common Wealth”.

Commonwealth leaders will also finalize a landmark Oceans Declaration that “aims to accelerate initiatives for a healthy, sustainable and resilient ocean.”

Preparations have been frantic in the nation of 220,000 people in Polynesia, halfway between Hawaii and New Zealand, to welcome the king and CHOGM leaders.

Charles III and Queen Camilla flew from Australia after a short official visit, marked with a protest by an Aboriginal parliamentarian declaring, “Not my king.” As head of the Commonwealth, the king, accompanied by the queen, will attend the CHOGM opening ceremony on Friday and will host a dinner for Commonwealth leaders.

He will also host a reception for new heads of Government and will attend the CHOGM Business Forum on sustainable urbanization and investment in solutions to tackle climate change. 

As well as Charles III, Britain’s prime Minister Keir Starmer will also attend CHOGM among leaders and officials from 56 countries with roots in Britain's former empire.

Some members have flagged raising at the meeting reparations for the historical trans-Atlantic slave trade. A spokesperson for Starmer told Reuters that Britain is open to engage with leaders who want to discuss it.

The royal couple will leave Samoa on Saturday.