An emotional King Charles said he “hopes he survives long enough to return” to Samoa after an intimate ceremony.
The Queen, 75, and Camilla, 77, said a fond farewell to the country in a colorful traditional Ava ceremony in the village of Siomo.
Charles received another honorary title, To'aiga-o-Tumua, and he and the Queen were presented with wreaths as they arrived in pouring rain.
In an impromptu speech in which the king made clear reference to his current battle with cancer, he said: “I will always be loyal to this part of the world and I hope to survive long enough to see you again.”
“We will take with us, I promise, very special memories of our time here. Thank you for our wonderful gifts.
Charles, who is still undergoing cancer treatment, would have been “relieved” by his trip to Australia and Samoa, where he had up to ten commitments a day.
The king will return next year to the “full program” of foreign tours after a new vote of confidence in his health from his doctors.
Sources close to Charles, who stopped treatment to make the 30,000-mile, 11-day round trip, explained that it was all part of a “mind, body and soul” approach to his battle with cancer.
An emotional King Charles said he “hopes he survives long enough to return” to Samoa after an intimate ceremony.
The Queen, 75, and Camilla, 77, bid a fond farewell to the country after a colorful traditional Ava ceremony in the village of Siomo.
Charles received another honorary title, To'aiga-o-Tumua, and he and the Queen were presented with wreaths as they arrived in pouring rain.
King Charles III and Queen Camilla smile during a visit to a beach in Apia, Samoa
King Charles III and Queen Camilla during a farewell ceremony at Siomo Village on the final day of the royal visit to Australia and Samoa.
They say this attitude is one of the reasons he has insisted on continuing his work since being diagnosed with an unknown form of the disease in February, despite the grueling physical toll his illness has taken.
Aides say Charles allowed his doctors to concentrate on healing his body, while he concentrated on his mental strength to face such a “hard” and unexpected blow, determined to keep his mind “in the right state.”
They also revealed:
- Charles had red boxes of official documents sent to him to work on as soon as his busy days of commitments were over.
- At Queen Camilla's request, he took time to read a “wonderful” new book;
- The king feels closer than ever to his wife. Courtiers say the couple is a “wonderful unit” and she kept it “real” for him;
- While his cancer diagnosis came as a huge shock, Charles almost immediately decided to try to turn it into a force for good, sharing his story with millions of other patients and taking “comfort” from their support.
- Buckingham Palace regarded his tour of Australia and Samoa as a major test of his reign, one that exceeded all expectations and perhaps set the republican cause back a generation;
- He was not bothered by an Australian Aboriginal protesting in Parliament. He's seen it all.
The positive health news comes as Charles and Camilla concluded their trip by hosting the 'King's Dinner' for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Samoa, followed by a visit to a village to thank locals for their hospitality.
Buckingham Palace also released new photos of the royal couple enjoying a walk on the beach, looking happy and relaxed.
When the prospect of a tour was first mooted earlier this year just eight months after her cancer diagnosis, staff were unsure how the royals would react.
But usually, they said, the answer was not, “How dare you?” But “Why can't I go to New Zealand too?” A source said: “He didn't even hesitate. We had to stop him.
A palace official said yesterday: “It is a great testament to the King's dedication to service and duty that he was prepared to go this far and was very happy and determined to do so.”
As for the commitment he made each day, despite leaving the afternoons free to recover, they made it clear that he was happy with the challenge.
“It is a great measure of how the king is coping with the diagnosis,” they said. “He is a great believer in mind, body and spirit.
“It's hard to overstate the joy you get from duty and service, from being in public and seeing those crowds. This really boosts morale. You can see that.
Carrying umbrellas, the couple walked the wet red carpet to the stage, which was covered with woven mats and decorated with flowers.
King Charles holds a bowl during a ceremony in the village of Siomo, Samoa, on October 26.
Charles and Camilla during a farewell party at Siomo Village on the last day of the royal visit to Australia and Samoa.
Charles and Camilla were offered seats on large golden thrones where they sat and listened to several richly dressed village elders give them an honorable welcome.
As they watched intently, the villagers, soaked to the skin but determined to continue the festivities, performed an “ava ceremony” (preparation of a special drink from the roots of the ava plant) which was given to the king to drink. in a very festive atmosphere. atmosphere. Polished coconut shell
Charles was so happy last week (as were his doctors) that he hopes to return to normal life next year.
“We are now working on a full overseas tour schedule which looks very normal for next year,” a senior royal official said, noting that traditional spring and autumn tours will return again.
Canada is likely to top your list. Of course, every decision made will be subject to discussion with the government, his ongoing treatment – the duration of which has not been revealed – and, ultimately, approval from his doctors.
But sources say the future is “bright”, which cannot always be said to be the case after the King was diagnosed earlier this year.
After the initial shock of this “shocking” diagnosis, he realized “in an instant” how much he had in common with millions of people in the UK and across the Commonwealth.
They say talking to others about their shared experiences has been a great source of strength for him.
He hopes others will take comfort in the fact that even “a king can get cancer.”
Attendees told this newspaper of deep concerns expressed privately about how the king's visit to Australia, the first to any of his kingdoms as king, would be welcomed.
“There was a lot to play for and that was very important for us,” they added. “A new king, a new era and a new world.”
Having Camila (77 years old) with him helped a lot. A senior royal aide described the pair as a “fantastic unit” and added: “The King gains a lot of power from having the Queen there, especially as she keeps it real.”
