King Charles III and delegations from 56 countries have, for the first time, taken the biennial summit meeting of leaders from Commonwealth governments to the 'front line' of climate change in Samoa and the phase out of fossil fuels is expected to be top of the agenda.

King Charles will deliver an address to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) on Friday. The royal office said as well as attending CHOGM, the King’s programme in Samoa would be supportive of one of the meeting’s key themes, “a resilient environment”, and the meeting’s focus on oceans.

Despite the warm ceremony, the cloud over UK reparations for historical transatlantic slavery remains. The event is part of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Samoa.

Samoa's government has made it clear that its key priority is using the event to champion action on climate change and gender equality.

Britain's King Charles will be offered the title of high chief in Samoa in a three-day visit starting Wednesday and will be shown the impact of rising sea levels due to climate change in the Pacific island nation.

Britain's King Charles and Queen Camilla flew into Samoa late on Wednesday, for a visit during which the monarch will be offered the title of high chief and attend a summit of Commonwealth nations, following a six-day tour of Australia.

King Charles and Queen Camilla have left Australia for Samoa where the British monarch will address a Commonwealth summit and be given the title of high chief. The couple are expected to be greeted by hundreds of people in the Pacific island nation which is holding its first Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in capital Apia this week.