King Charles will receive title of high chief in Samoa

King Charles will receive the title of high chief in Samoa on a three-day visit that begins on Wednesday and will be shown the impact of rising sea levels due to climate change on Pacific Island nation.

Lenatai Victor Tamapua, a Samoan chief and member of Parliament, said he planned to offer the title of Tui Taumeasina to the monarch during a traditional ceremonial reception for Charles and Queen Camilla on Thursday.

Later, he will lead Charles along a walkway in a mangrove reserve, highlighting the impact of climate change on Pacific nations and their communities.

“The king tide today is about twice as high as it was 20, 30 years ago, and it’s affecting our lands, and it’s eroding some of the areas that are so difficult to control, and people (have to) move to inland, inland now,” Tamapua said.

Charles has spent a lifetime campaigning on environmental issues and in 2020 described global warming and climate change as the greatest threat humanity has ever faced.