King Charles fan's brutal eight-word greeting as he introduces monarch to his family

King Charles was dressed Samoan-style for a day of ceremonies welcoming him and Queen Consort, Camilla, to the island nation for a state visit - and he designed the trousers himself

The King watched as a woman grimaced with pain while having a traditional Samoan tattoo etched on her leg.

Tattooist John Lemisio showed the King his family of tattooists showcasing the sacred art of Samoan tattooing, known as "Tatau". The King asked if it was “painful” and John laughed and said: “It's very painful, very painful.”

When the King asked: “Does the pain last very long?” John replied: “It is a lifetime of pain.” Charles said: “Do you need a drink for that?” But he was told: “No. No medicine.”

Lemisio went on to say: “Welcome to the house of pain, your majesty!” The King replied: “Yes, it must be very painful.” Each tattoo design is rich with meaning and represents personal stories, heritage and social status. It requires Samoan tattoo artists not only to have great skill but also great cultural knowledge.

The tattoo display took place as the King and Queen were shown a virtual “cultural village” organised by the Samoa Tourism Authority. The idea was to save time by bringing people from the nearby villages to one place so that the King and Queen could meet as many locals as possible in one place.

They were greeted by the Deputy Prime Minister Afiosa Tuala Ponifasio who said: “Words cannot express how honoured we are and how appreciative we are for you being amongst our midst. We are very grateful, Your Majesties.”

Pesteta Arasi, President of the Samoan Women In Business, showed them how traditional Samoan weaving process. She said the strong ones were used to sleep on, telling the King: “You can put the pillow on the mat and you can have a quick rest.”

They were shown the traditional Samoan weaving method used to produce le Samoa, a fine mat which holds huge cultural significance in Samoan families as it symbolises the wealth of a family.

The mats are made using a six-stage process where Pandanus leaves are harvested, dried, soaked in seawater for five nights, washed, bleached in the sun and then the leaves are slit to be weaved into the mats.

The best mats are called le-Sae and known for their softness and exquisite craftsmanship. Outside, the King saw a group of people soaking a mat with water and scrubbing it. Charles, who was holding an umbrella, referred to the rain helping them complete the task, saying: “It must be the ideal day for it.”

After seeing how they were made, Camilla was gifted a roll of Siapo – a fine cloth made from tree bark which traditionally served as fabric for clothing for centuries before the arrival of missionaries on the island. It is now used as a form of artwork.

Outside the King and Queen were shown a traditional war dance and were invited to meet the island nation’s rugby and cricket teams.

Beauty Queen Litara Leremia-Allan, Miss Samoa 2024, greeted Queen Camilla. The 23-year-old said afterwards: "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 honoured to present this side."