The King has been given a Samoan dancing lesson ahead of his trip to the Pacific nation – and was dubbed a man with “moves”.

The monarch didn’t need to be asked twice when a guest at his Commonwealth reception, celebrating achievements of people from the “family of nations”, asked him to dance.

Freddy Tuilagi, 53, the eldest of a family of famous rugby-playing siblings, choreographed the King’s performance, holding out his arms across his chest and fluttering them, which the monarch copied.

The King smiled as he moved and was watched by the Queen, and at one point Tuilagi, an honorary consul with the Samoan High Commission, gave him a ceremonial fly swat, which was hung over his shoulder.

“I told King I’m going to dance for you, when you go to Samoa, this is how they will dance,” Tuilagi said after Wednesday’s performance.

Asked to critique the King’s dancing, he said: “Good, he’s got the moves.”

The King and Queen hosted the St James’ Palace event ahead of their forthcoming trip to Australia and Samoa, which begins on October 18. They are to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in the Pacific Island nation, and will also visit Australia.

In other moves at the reception, England rugby player Joe Cokanasiga performed a symbolic gesture from his Fijian heritage and went down on one knee before the King and clapped three times, while the Queen chatted to pop icon Grace Jones about her hat from Treacy, a milliner they both love.

Among the guests representing the Commonwealth diaspora were Strictly Come Dancing judge Craig Revel Horwood, from Australia, and former judge Motsi Mabuse, who was born in South Africa. She spoke to the Duchess of Edinburgh, who was also at the reception.

“I think they’re going to receive an amazing reception, because Australia still likes to belong, otherwise it literally is going to be an island,” Revel Horwood said when asked how Australians would react to their new King and Queen.

“I think it’s really wonderful to have the monarchy as head of state. So for me, it’s a great thing because I’m a royalist – and for a lot of people in Australia like my mum, who loves the royals.”

-AAP