BBC Breakfast Interrupts Programming for Royal Update: ‘King Charles and Queen Camilla Arrive in Samoa’
BBC Breakfast paused its regular schedule on Wednesday morning when co-host Jon Kay broke the news of King Charles and Queen Camilla’s arrival in Samoa, marking the start of their participation in the Commonwealth Summit, told Manchester Evening News.
“It’s coming up to quarter past seven, Wednesday morning, and Wednesday evening in the Pacific. King Charles and Queen Camilla have just arrived on the island nation of Samoa, where they are attending a Summit for the 56 Nation Commonwealth; there we go,” Jon announced, visibly excited.
His co-host Sally Nugent added, “Of course, you will know they have been on a six-day tour of Australia, which we have been covering here on the programme, and they touched down just a few minutes ago. We were expecting them within the last half hour or so, and as we can see, that is their plane.”
The moment was highlighted by a “breaking news” banner across viewers’ screens as footage of the royal couple stepping off their aircraft was broadcast. Sally narrated the scene, saying, “The King and Queen arriving,” while Jon elaborated, “They said in advance they couldn’t wait to arrive in Samoa for this state visit. They said they were looking forward to experiencing the warmth of the country’s ancient traditions”, reports the Express.
As the cameras showed the royal couple being welcomed by dignitaries, Jon emphasized the importance of the visit. “There is going to be a lot of official work to do, this head of government conference, which happens every couple of years somewhere,” he explained, adding, “They have gone about as far as they could possibly go for the next one.”
Sally then introduced Katy Watson, who was reporting from Samoa. “Good morning, Katy,” Sally greeted warmly before asking, “So what can we expect to happen over the coming days?”
Katy responded with details from the ground, saying, “This is his first trip to Samoa, and this is the first time he has attended the Summit since becoming King. It is also a first for a small Pacific nation in hosting.”
She pointed out the significance of the event for the host nation, adding, “It is something important here for Samoa, a small country hoping the spotlight is really put upon it.”
Katy also discussed the key topics of the summit, highlighting that climate change, a subject close to King Charles, would be at the forefront of discussions. “This area is one of the most vulnerable when it comes to rising sea levels,” she noted.
After showing footage of the King being greeted by the Prime Minister and local officials, the broadcast returned to the studio. Jon concluded the segment by reflecting, “That is the first time we have been live in Samoa at breakfast time,” and praised the monarch, saying, “It’s good to see the King looking well.”