Palace releases new portrait of King and Queen as their Samoa trip ends

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King Charles heckled by Australian senator: ‘Give us our land back’

Buckingham Palace has released a new portrait of the King and Queen as their Samoa trip draws to a close.

King Charles III said: “As our visits to Australia and Samoa come to a close, my wife and I would like to thank both nations for the warmest of welcomes and for the countless fond memories we will carry in our hearts for many years to come.

“Even when we are far apart in distance, the many close connections that unite us across the globe and through our Commonwealth family have been renewed, and will remain as profound as they are enduring.”

It came after he acknowledged the “most painful aspects” of the Commonwealth’s past as he bid goodbye to Samoa after indirectly acknowledging growing calls for slavery reparations in Samoa.

Charles and Queen Camilla ended their four-day state visit to Samoa by visiting a village twinned with the UK after attending a major Commonwealth summit was hosted by the Pacific nation.

(CHRIS JACKSON/GETTY IMAGES)

In his landmark speech at the opening of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (Chogm) on Friday, the monarch acknowledged the need to “acknowledge where we have come from”.

He told world leaders at the summit: “None of us can change the past. But we can commit, with all our hearts to learning its lessons and to finding creative ways to right inequalities that endure.”

But Charles stopped short of mentioning financial reparations that some leaders at the event urged for and instead exhorted them to find the “right language” and an understanding of history “to guide us towards making the right choices in future where inequality exists”.

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Howard Mustoe26 October 2024 22:10

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No plans to hold weddings for the public at the King’s Balmoral Estate

There are no plans to host weddings for members of the public on the King’s Balmoral Estate, a spokesman for the royal residence has said.

Weddings are mentioned in plans a representative for the Aberdeenshire estate had lodged for the Queen’s Building, on the grounds near Balmoral Castle.

The plans state the venue “may be used for weddings, dinners, meetings and associated events”, which it said would be “rare throughout the year”.

But a spokesman for the estate said: “There are no plans for Balmoral to host weddings as a commercial venture.”

It is understood the estate has had the capability to host functions and events, both private and public, for a number of years.

Read the full story here:

Athena Stavrou26 October 2024 22:00

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Mike Tindall reveals what the late Queen was like behind closed doors

Mike Tindall, the late Queen’s grandson-in-law, says the Queen’s life “wasn’t like an episode of Downton Abbey”.

The world cup winning rugby union player, who is married to the Queen’s granddaughtr Zara Tindall, revealed what the Queen was like behind closed doors in his joint book ‘The Good, The Bad and The Rugby – Unleashed’, released alongside podcast co-hosts James Haskell and Alex Payne.

“I’m sometimes asked if the Queen did informality like ‘normal’ people, and the answer to that is yes,” Mr Tindall said.

“Her life wasn’t like an episode of Downton Abbey, with meals on long tables and everyone dressed in their finery every night, and Zara and I would often watch the racing with her on TV, as I’m sure lots of people reading this have done with their gran.

“Lunches were also relaxed, especially up in Scotland, where lunch would often be heading out into the open space of the Scottish Highlands for a picnic.

“There’s a great picture of my daughter Mia sitting with the Duke of Edinburgh that captures exactly what those afternoons were like: members of a very close family who loved each other dearly spending precious time together. Yes, there’s a lot of drama surrounding the royal family, but they aren’t much different to anyone else underneath it all,” he added.

The Queen greets Mike Tindall at Buckingham Palace in 2006 (Stefan Rousseau/PA)
The Queen greets Mike Tindall at Buckingham Palace in 2006 (Stefan Rousseau/PA) (PA Archive)

Athena Stavrou26 October 2024 20:00

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A look back at King Charles’ Australia tours over the years

A look back at King Charles’ Australia tours over the years

Athena Stavrou26 October 2024 18:00

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Watch: Alpaca sneezes on King Charles during walkabout in Australia

As the King’s landmark trip to Australia and Samoa come to an end, here’s a look at one of the more bizarre moments of the royal tour.

The King was left in “disbelief” after a crown-wearing alpaca dressed in a suit with a gold bow tie sneezed as he went to say hello on Monday.

The animal was calmly waiting with its owner among hundreds of well-wishers to meet the King outside the Australian War Memorial in Canberra when he committed the social gaff.

Robert Fletcher had brought his nine-year-old alpaca – named Hefner as his mother was called Playgirl – on its lead to meet the King.

But when Charles stroked his nose the animal sneezed and those around him laughed.

Mr Fletcher said afterwards: “I got to shake his hand and then Hefner sneezed. The King just looked in disbelief. But it’s just who Hefner is. He is an alpaca after all.”

Alpaca sneezes on King Charles during walkabout in Australia

Athena Stavrou26 October 2024 16:30

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King says he hopes to survive long enough to return to Samoa

The King has said he hopes to “survive long enough” to return to Samoa as he heads back to the UK.

Charles and Queen Camilla ended their four-day state visit to Samoa by visiting a village twinned with the UK, as a major Commonwealth summit was hosted by the Pacific nation.

After his landmark speech at the opening of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (Chogm) on Friday, the King and his wife took part in a cultural welcome as guests of Siumu village the following day.

He told his guests: “I shall always remain devoted to this part of the world and hope that I survive long enough to come back again and see you all.”

Athena Stavrou26 October 2024 15:30

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Pictured: Charles and Camilla’s final day in Samoa

(Aaron Chown/PA Wire)
(Chris Jackson/PA Wire)
Charles drinks kava from a coconut shell (Aaron Chown/PA)
Charles drinks kava from a coconut shell (Aaron Chown/PA) (PA Wire)

Athena Stavrou26 October 2024 14:30

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Round up of royal trip to Australia and Samoa

From poignant remembrance events to ancient welcome ceremonies, the King and Queen’s tour of Australia and Samoa had it all.

Crowds flocked to the famous Sydney Opera House to see the monarch making his first visit to Australia as King, with his wife Camilla. It saw the largest crowd of the tour, with more than 6,000 people vying for the best spot to get a glimpse of the couple.

In the capital Canberra the mood was very different when the couple paid their respects at the Australian War Memorial during a poignant wreath-laying ceremony. There were moments when the formalities were forgotten, including Charles being hugged by one well-wisher during his visit to the National Centre of Indigenous Excellence in Sydney.

Some encounters were more unusual, from an alpaca wearing a crown and bow tie that sneezed as the King stroked its nose, to the Queen trying to coax a parrot to talk.

Royal tours sometimes have controversial moments and when Charles was welcomed by parliamentarians in Canberra, senator Lidia Thorpe accused him of “genocide” against the First Nations.

In Samoa the King showed off his own take on local fashion during welcoming ceremonies.

Charles swapped his trademark tailored suit for a short-sleeved white jacket and trousers he designed himself as he was honoured with a new title, sipped a symbolic drink and was presented with a pig for feasting on the opening day of his state visit to the Pacific nation.

The itinerary was tailored to give the King, who has been receiving treatment for cancer for much of the year, periods of rest. A rest day was allocated after the couple first arrived in Australia and the King looked engaged, relaxed and in good spirits throughout the overseas visit.

Athena Stavrou26 October 2024 13:30

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Charles and Camilla wave goodbye as they leave Samoa

Charles and Queen Camilla ended their four-day state visit to Samoa on Friday as they boarded their plane back to the UK.

Before departing, the King and Queen visiteda village twinned with the UK and later sheltered under umbrellas when they boarded their plane home in torrential rain.

Camilla went ahead of her husband, who chatted to dignitaries for a few minutes before joining his wife at the top of the steps and they both waved goodbye to the Pacific nation.

(Chris Jackson/PA Wire)

Athena Stavrou26 October 2024 12:30

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Charles and Camilla visit Samoan village on final day of royal tour

Charles and Queen Camilla ended their four-day state visit to Samoa by visiting a village twinned with the UK.

Villages around the Samoan capital Apia are twinned with each of the 56 member states of the Commonwealth, flying the flags of the countries they have adopted, with street furniture painted in the national colours.

In his impromptu speech Charles said: “We’ve been so impressed by the beautiful way in which all the villages have decorated the roadsides, it is something very special about Samoa.”

He thanked residents for their “wonderful generosity” bringing gifts of food and “other wonderful things”, and said the royal couple would take away “special memories of our time here”.

When the couple arrived, a downpour began, drenching villagers and elders gathered for a ceremony in which a drink made from powdered kava root is drunk, signifying unity.

Charles and Camilla were presented with pink garland necklaces before taking a seat on beige leather throne-style chairs.

The King was honoured with the chiefly title of To’aiga-O-Tumua by the village’s high chief, as he and Camilla were presented with sacred kava in coconut shells with straws.

“May God bless this kava,” said Charles as he lifted the cup and drank.

The chief told Charles: “Your papa, Prince Philip, was here, so thank you for making the time. Your royal visit has lifted our house.”

(Aaron Chown/PA Wire)

Athena Stavrou26 October 2024 11:30

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