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