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Buckingham Palace said King Charles will not shy away from Britain's role in the transatlantic slave trade during a Caribbean tour this month, but will not formally apologize, as reparations and apologies are matters for the government.
King Charles will not formally apologize for Britain's involvement in the transatlantic slave trade when he tours the Caribbean later this month, Buckingham Palace said on Friday.
Charles Begins Caribbean Tour
The palace said both reparations and apologies were matters for the government, not the monarchy. The king and his wife Queen Camilla will visit the Bahamas and Guyana before heading to Antigua and Barbuda. There they will attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, known as CHOGM, which is being held from Nov. 1-4 this year.
The trip comes amid growing clamor from Caribbean and African nations for Britain and other colonial powers to pay reparations for their involvement in slavery. The issue is likely to be prominent at CHOGM. The British government has ruled out paying any reparations. Charles remains the head of state of a number of Caribbean nations, including both the Bahamas and Antigua and Barbuda.
Government Leads Reparations Debate
He has previously expressed his sorrow about slavery. As such, both reparations and apologies were a matter for the government, a palace spokesperson said. There are important discussions taking place in various fora about colonial legacy and the intergenerational impact of the transatlantic trade in enslaved persons, the Buckingham Palace spokesperson said. The spokesperson added the visit was coming at an important time in the relationship between Britain and Caribbean nations.
The visit program will therefore not shy away from the darkest days of our past, as his majesty has described them, the spokesperson said. But, in keeping with the wishes of our host nations, it will principally be oriented to the vibrant present and promising future of each country. From the 15th to the 19th century, at least 12.5 million Africans were abducted and sold into slavery by European merchants.
Britain's Role in Atlantic Slavery
Britain was responsible for transporting an estimated 3.2 million people, making it the second most active European nation after Portugal. Charles is head of the Commonwealth group of 56 nations, mainly former British colonies, encompassing some 2.7 billion people. He has backed research into the British monarchy's own historical links to the trade. Last month, the Jamaican government also formally asked him to seek legal advice on whether Britain should pay reparations.
Jamaica said it was encouraged by the engagement of Buckingham Palace. It is important to note here the work his majesty himself has done over many years both to acknowledge the wrongs of the past and to find creative ways to right inequalities that endure, the palace spokesperson said. As you would therefore expect, opportunities will be found during the visit to reflect and renew his personal, wholehearted, and continuing commitment to that process.
Commonwealth Push for Reparations
In February, Commonwealth Secretary-General Shirley Botchwey told Reuters she expected its members to make progress towards beginning negotiations on reparations. Reporting by Liza Premiyak; writing by Michael Holden, editing by Philippa Fletcher.
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CP24:No apology but King Charles will not shy away from slavery issue during Caribbean tour, Buckingham Palace saysThis story was compiled and edited by the HeadTopics newsroom and HT AI from the reports above.
King Charles Caribbean Transatlantic Slave Trade Reparations Commonwealth King Charles Caribbean Visit Slavery Reparations Commonwealth Heads Of Government Meeting Buckingham Palace
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