UK’s King Charles expresses ‘horror’ at ‘monstrous injustice’ of slavery

ST JOHN’S, Antigua and Barbuda (AFP) — King Charles III called the transatlantic slave trade “a monstrous injustice” Tuesday, opening a Commonwealth summit in which United Kingdom (UK) leader Andy Burnham is holding talks about apologising for Britain’s role in slavery.

The monarch told the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Antigua and Barbuda that slavery “still casts a shadow over these islands and other members” of the 56-nation group, many of which are former British colonies.

“As I have said before, that shameful chapter of history is one that fills my heart with horror and my soul with the most profound personal sorrow,” said the king.

“And yet history also teaches us that evil need not have the last word; that character and courage can combine to overcome the most monstrous injustice, as they did with the determination to end international trade in enslaved people, in which the Royal Navy played such a leading role,” Charles added.

The comments come as Burnham uses his appearance at the summit to hold discussions with Commonwealth leaders about issuing a formal apology for Britain’s role in slavery, which saw about 10-15 million slaves brought from Africa to the Americas over four centuries.

The Labour premier, in office since July, said at the weekend that he was open to saying sorry but ruled out paying the financial reparations demanded by some Caribbean countries.

Britain’s pivotal part in slavery has long strained relations between the UK and its former colonies, including an awkward previous meeting of Commonwealth leaders in 2024.

The UK royal family benefited from the trade but Charles is politically neutral and is not expected to offer an apology.

A palace spokesperson also said “it would not be appropriate” for the king to announce a change in government policy.

Burnham discussed slavery with Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley during a meeting on Monday, one of several bilateral chats the prime minister is expected to have at the summit.

They discussed how Britain “was offering a structured dialogue for communities impacted by the transatlantic slave trade”, including the “next steps”, Downing Street said.

Burnham wrote in the Guardian on Saturday that he would have “difficult conversations” to safeguard the Commonwealth’s future.

“Listening to calls for a formal apology on behalf of the British state will form an important part of this process and I am open to them,” Burnham wrote.

He insisted, however, that reparations were “not the right answer”, saying British people today should not be “held liable for historical wrongs, however heinous”.

Instead, London is pursuing a “debt reset” plan for the poorest Commonwealth countries, led by former Labour Prime Minister Gordon Brown and which could alter interest rates on repayments.

The UK will also allocate £40 million (US$54 million) over three years for infrastructure improvements in the Caribbean, including renewable energy.

The issue of slavery has loomed large over 77-year-old Charles’s ongoing nine-day visit to three Caribbean countries.

When the king arrived in the Bahamas last week, small groups of protesters waved placards reading: “Pay what you owe us.”

The monarch acknowledged “the great suffering of the past” during that stop.

Britain has never formally apologised for slavery or agreed to pay reparations.

The BBC reported Tuesday that Britain was likely to apologise during its G20 presidency next year.

The country profited for centuries from colonialism and slavery, but argues it also led the way in the latter’s abolition.

In 1833, the UK parliament passed a law to abolish slavery in most of the British Empire.

Opposition Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has said Britain should not apologise, arguing it would boost countries’ claims for financial compensation.

At the previous Commonwealth meeting in Samoa in 2024, 56 nations signed a communique backing talks over reparatory justice after then-prime minister Keir Starmer tried to avoid the issue of slavery.

Burnham has said his government is pursuing a “new approach”.