King Charles and Queen Camilla wrapped up their tour of Australia this week, moving on to the South Pacific island of Samoa on Wednesday, Oct. 23. But when the royal couple visited its capital, Apia, on Oct. 24, King Charles received a rather unusual greeting.
"Welcome to the house of pain, Your Majesty!" tattoo artist John Lemisio quipped (per the Mirror) as The King witnessed the sacred Samoan art of "Tatau" or traditional tattooing.
"It's very painful, very painful," Lemisio confessed with a laugh during his candid exchange with King Charles. "Does the pain last very long?" the monarch asked, leading Lemisio to give him a philosophical reply of, "It is a lifetime of pain."
The King wondered, "Do you need a drink for that?" but the experienced tattooist said, "No. No medicine." Charles was shown the intricate designs, which are rich with cultural meaning and can show one's social status as well as important moments from a person's life.
The King witnessed traditional Samoan tattooing at work.
King Charles—who recently was greeted by a rather unusual royal fan in Australia—viewed the demonstration during his visit with Queen Camilla to a cultural village set up to display various traditions such as weaving to the royals.
Per the Mirror, the event was set up by the Samoa Tourism Authority so people from local villages could gather "in one place" and allow the royal couple to "meet as many locals as possible."
Queen Camilla also got to meet Miss Samoa 2024, Litara Leremia-Allan, who said, via the Mirror, "Samoan Queens have strength and resilience are the glue that holds our community together. A Samoan Queen and British Queen is a meeting of two different understandings and an intersection of cultures and I'm honored to present this side."
During their visit to Apia, King Charles took part in a special welcome ceremony that involved drinking a traditional (and narcotic) root drink called ava. Per the Guardian, "Australia’s former deputy prime minister was hospitalized" after downing too much of the drink "at a similar ceremony in Micronesia," so it's probably for the best that Charles took it easy on the brew.
-
Luxembourg's Royal Family Reveals Prince Frederik Has Died"Frederik's last question to me...was: 'Papa, are you proud of me?'"
-
Princess Kate Makes Her Commonwealth Day Return in Historic Royal Pearls and a Scarlet CoatThe Princess of Wales looked radiant in red at Westminster Abbey.
-
Rihanna Champions Kendrick Lamar's Super Bowl Designer JeansIt's the last pair we expected her to wear.
-
King Charles Just Spent $3.9 Million on the House Next Door to Queen Camilla's Private HomeCamilla is reportedly "grateful and relieved" after her husband made the expensive purchase.
-
King Charles and Queen Camilla's State Visit to Italy Has Been Thrown Into "Doubt" Amid Official's Health ConcernsThe royals were set to visit Rome and Ravenna, and meet with Pope Francis.
-
King Charles Makes a Surprising Pivot in His Social Media Strategy That Reveals His "Happy King" EraAn unexpectedly fun new royal initiative launches March 10.
-
Queen Camilla's New Puppy Is Joined by Another Pet for King Charles—and He's "Besotted"The King and Queen have a full house now.
-
Queen Camilla Will Be "Emotional" at a Forthcoming Event With Kate Middleton, Says Royal Expert"It will be one of the most important days in the royal calendar this year."
-
Why Queen Camilla Berated King Charles at Their Latest Joint Engagement"We are waiting!"
-
Princess Kate, King Charles and Queen Camilla Share an Unusual InterestIt's very on brand.
-
How "Grandpa Wales" King Charles Is Connected in a Special Way to Prince LouisThe two are tied together in a sweet way.
