King Charles spoke of his lifelong aspiration to visit every country in the Commonwealth as he hosted an official dinner for the Commonwealth Heads of Government on his final night in Samoa.
But he said that the ever expanding number of member states and his doctors’ orders during his ongoing cancer treatment has prevented him from acheiving his aim so far.
Since 1969, Charles has visited 46 of the 56 Commonwealth countries, many of them on several occasions.
During the only evening engagement of the King and Queen’s 10-day visit to Australia and the Pacific, Their Majesties hosted delegates from the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting at the former home of Robert Louis Stevenson in Samoa where the biannual summit is being held.
Palace aides have spent almost two years planning the welcome dinner and a Palace source said it had been the most “technically complex dinner” they have put on.
Charles, 75, ditched the suit and tie he was wearing earlier for a Red Sea rig dress with Samoan detail from the Samoan school of fine art.
In a matching shade of blue, Camilla, 77, wore an embroidered tunic top and blue palazzo trousers by Anna Valentine with diamond earrings.
Their Majesties stood on the museum’s veranda and greeted the 80 guests in turn, which included Sir Keir Starmer.
The High Commissioner of Canada was heard apologising for the non-appearance of the Justin Trudeau, the prime minister of Canada, saying: “It’s the first time he’s ever missed it.”
When the King met Nana Akufo-Addo, the President of Ghana, who attended the dinner in black tie, Charles told him: “You’re making me feel underdressed.”