Photo by Reuters/ King Charles arrived in Antigua on Friday evening
King Charles to address slavery’s lasting pain at Commonwealth summit in Antigua and Barbuda
King Charles III will speak with “unflinching honesty” and “sincere sorrow” about the lasting pain of the transatlantic slave trade when he addresses Commonwealth leaders in Antigua and Barbuda on Tuesday, Buckingham Palace has said.
The speech at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting comes amid renewed debate over whether Britain should formally apologise for its role in slavery.
A Palace spokesperson said the King “will not shy away from confronting the most shameful aspects of the past during this visit”.
His remarks will also acknowledge discussions between governments on the issue at CHOGM and beyond.
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said he is open to the possibility of a formal apology, signalling a change in the government’s position. Britain has never formally apologised for slavery or offered to pay reparations.
Writing in the Guardian on Friday, Burnham described the transatlantic slave trade as a “brutal and barbaric violation” and said Britain must confront its past. He stopped short of offering consideration of reparations payments.
The Palace was informed of his comments in advance, but the King has made no changes to his speech in response.
Royal officials stressed that decisions about an apology rest with the British government. A Palace spokesperson said it would be inappropriate for the King to comment on government policy.
The colonial legacy has been a recurring theme during the King’s Caribbean tour. In the Bahamas, he acknowledged past suffering and injustice. In Guyana, he visited a site associated with the 1823 Demerara Slave Rebellion, during which hundreds of enslaved people were killed.
King Charles and Queen Camilla are completing their tour in Antigua and Barbuda, where their programme includes a Sunday church service and celebrations marking the country’s 45th anniversary of independence.
This article was originally published by Antigua News Room. Read the original article here: King to address slavery during Commonwealth speech in Antigua on final leg of Caribbean tour.