OCCASION OF THE 77TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION OF HIS MAJESTY KING CHARLES III OF THE UNITED KINGDOM [13 November 2025]

SAMOA, November 12 - REMARKS by the Hon. Acting Prime Minister, Toelupe Maoiautele Poumulinuku Onesemo

Lau Afioga, Tuimaleali’ifano Va’aleto’a Sualauvi II ma lau Masiofo,

Lau Susuga Reverend Raymond Betham,

Members of the Council of Deputies ma outou Faletua

Ministers of Cabinet,

The Chief Justice and Members of the Judiciary,

Honourable Speaker,

Leader of the Opposition,

Members of Parliament,

British High Commissioner,

Your Excellency, Mr. Gareth Hoar and your good lady,

Members of the Diplomatic Corps,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is an honor for me to join you all at this evening’s reception to celebrate the 77th birthday of His Majesty King Charles III.

On behalf of the Government and the People of Samoa, I extend through you, High Commissioner, Your Excellency, Gareth Hoar, our sincere congratulations and best wishes to His Majesty for continued good health, happiness and prosperity.

His Majesty’s official birthday was celebrated in June with the Trooping the colours ceremonial event, a remarkable tradition to mark the official celebration of the birthday of the reigning monarch of the United Kingdom for over 260 years. This evening’s celebration is of great significance, it is a day when the people of the United Kingdom unite in expressing their loyalty, admiration and gratitude to a Sovereign whose leadership, wisdom and compassion have guided the nation with strength and dignity. The official birthday of His Majesty is not merely a celebration of a personal milestone, but a national occasion that reflects the United Kingdom’s rich history and legacy, achievements and aspirations for the future.

Some of our generations can recall having a large part of their educational life under the tutelage of teaching professionals from the United Kingdom, who besides leaving a legacy of a sound educational foundation for the children of Samoa but also introduced extra-curricular activities as Brownies, Girl Guides and Boy Scouts at the Anglican compound as well as the introduction of soccer and the nine -a -side netball at secondary level. Many people sang the “God Save the Queen’ anthem until 1962. This occasion provides an opportunity for us to reflect on how far we have come in our relations and partnerships with the United Kingdom towards the achievement of our common goals, of peace and prosperity for our respective countries and people.

Samoa and the United Kingdom have enjoyed cordial relations since the establishment of diplomatic relations in the last 55 years. Our relations are built on mutual respect, through our common history, our shared values and support for global goals of peace, security and prosperity.

We recall fondly Their Majesties State visit to Samoa in October 2024, during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), which Samoa proudly hosted. It was His Majesty’s first visit to the Pacific region since his coronation as King in May 2023 and his first CHOGM as Head of the Commonwealth. The visit has further strengthened our collaboration in cultural exchanges, environmental protection and education. The highlight was the bestowal of the honorary titles of “Tui Taumeasina” from the village of Moata’a and “To’aiga oTumua” from Siumu, reflecting the high respect the people of Samoa hold for the UK monarchy.

Today we continue collaboration in the education sector, through the Chevening and Commonwealth Scholarship programmes. The recipients of these programmes have pursued higher education in the United Kingdom returning with valuable skills and experiences contributing to and scaling up the cadre of skilled professionals essential for building our labour force.

The United Kingdom has also extended its support to enhance our governance and anti-corruption efforts through multilaterally-led project initiatives and programs, providing specialized training aimed at strengthening institutional capacity.

Our cooperation also includes trade and economic development through the UK-Pacific Interim Economic Partnership Agreement (IEPA) that ensures trade continuity and support opportunities for Samoa exports.

The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) 2024 stood as a significant testament to the enduring partnership between Samoa and the United Kingdom. The gathering highlighted our shared commitment to advancing common agendas and addressing multilateral challenges. During this historic meeting, Commonwealth nations adopted the Apia Commonwealth Ocean Declaration for One Resilient Common Future, a landmark agreement reaffirming our joint dedication to sustainable and resilient ocean stewardship. We acknowledge the United Kingdom’s assistance during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, with the deployment of the Royal Navy HMS Tamar to provide support in partnership with Australia, New Zealand, and our Police force to ensure security and safety of our CHOGM guests in particular, Their Majesties.

As we commemorate the birthday of His Majesty King Charles III this evening, let us also celebrate the friendship between Samoa and the United Kingdom.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Please raise your glasses and join me in proposing a toast,

“To the good health and long life of His Majesty King Charles III, and to the warm friendship between Samoa and the United Kingdom. Ia Manuia!”

November 18, 2025