The Queen has praised the staff and volunteers safeguarding victims of abuse in Samoa for doing a “wonderful job”.
Camilla visited the Samoa Victims Support Group (SVSG) and toured a small campus where up to 100 abused children are given care and an education, while domestic abuse victims receive support and counselling.
After opening the Queen Camilla Pre-School of Hope, the King’s wife told members of the organisation: “You’re doing such a wonderful job for these children I will go back to Britain with fond memories.”
She suggested possible support for the organisation that relies on donations and fundraising, when she said she would see if she could “help you”.
Camilla toured the pre-school which was filled with donated toys, books and furniture and said: “It’s got everything here, it’s absolutely fantastic.”
Earlier, Camilla joined SVSG board members and chatted to two former victims of abuse and spoke about those who have suffered physical, mental or sexual harm helping to empower others.
She said it was important “to be able to come back and talk to others who have suffered and show them the way”.
Camilla also eagerly agreed to have a yellow ribbon pinned to her dress, the symbol of the “let it end with me” campaign launched by SVSG in memory of an abuse victim, to raise awareness of the issue.
Siliniu Lina Chang, who founded SVSG almost 20 years ago, was thrilled by the royal visit.
She said about her work with children: “When they come here things change, what they never had with their families they can have here.
“A lot of these children have never been to school before and cannot write their names we want to give them a brighter future and give them back their identity.”
Later, Charles carried out a solo event opening the King’s Garden; a new open space in the grounds of the Robert Louis Stevenson Museum to commemorate the royal visit to Samoa.
He laughed after coming face-to-face with a mystery passer-by dressed head to toe as a colourful Samoan tooth-billed pigeon called a manume, who flapped his feathery wings as the King talked.
Charles planted a the Talafalu tree, chosen especially to help an endangered species of butterfly, touched it for good luck and asked locals “keep an eye on my tree” when he had gone.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here