King Charles has been urged to abandon a lifetime habit as he prepares to embark on a huge royal tour to warmer climes.
In October, King Charles and Queen Camilla will travel to Australia, marking their first visit to a Commonwealth Realm since taking the throne. In addition, they will travel to the Polynesian island nation of Samoa for an official state visit.
While they’re in Samoa, the King and Queen will attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM). However, The Mail reports that Fiame Naomi Mata’afa, the prime minister of Samoa, has some concerns about Charles’s usual choice of clothing.
Fiame said: “I’ve been very frank in my discussions in London. I had an audience with the King. October’s very hot in Samoa. We’re not really keen for people to wear suits and be hot and uncomfortable. We want to encourage more of an island vibe.”
Charles and Camilla’s schedule kicks off on Friday, October 18, when they arrive in Australia with a busy itinerary that will include a number of engagements and traditions themed around their work.
Charles’ efforts will centre on community, faith and sustainability, while Camilla’s visit will focus on raising awareness of literacy, sexual abuse and domestic violence.
A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said: “In both countries, their Majesty’s engagements will focus on themes designed to celebrate the best of Australia and Samoa, as well as reflecting aspects of the King and Queen’s work.”
Situated near to the equator in the South Pacific, Samoa enjoys warm, humid weather throughout the year. It doesn’t experience much in the way of temperature variations but has wet and dry seasons, according to Samoa Travel.
Its average daytime temperature spans from 24 to 30 degrees celsius all year, including when the King and Queen will be arriving on the island in October, which falls in the dry season.
A spokesman said the King would be meeting the professors, whom they described as “Australians of the years of the year”, to hear about their work to “help those affected by melanoma”.
While visiting Samoa, Charles will attend his first CHOGM since becoming the head of the Commonwealth, with a spokesperson saying they will celebrate the “warm bilateral relationship” between the two nations.
The tour, which is scheduled to end on October 26, has been shortened to not include a journey to New Zealand in light of Charles’s health. However, sources have suggested his health is on a “positive trajectory”.
In addition, The Queen’s son, Tom Parker-Bowles, recently shared that Charles’s “doctor says the treatment is going well”.