Charles admits cancer has paused his lifelong dream

THE KING toasts Commonwealth leaders during their dinner last night - as he reveals his lifelong aspiration is to visit every country in the alliance.

- Emily Ferguson

But he admitted the ever-expanding number of members and his doctors' orders during his ongoing cancer treatment have prevented him so far.

Charles, 75, who has been to 46 of the Commonwealth's 56 countries since 1969, was hosting the meal for its heads of government on his final night in Samoa.

It was the only evening engagement of his and Queen Camilla's 10-day tour of Australia and the Pacific, which was scaled back to protect his health.

The dinner - which was not called a banquet because it had three courses instead of four - took place at the former home of Treasure Island author Robert Louis Stevenson as part of the Commonwealth's biannual summit.

Planning