King Charles to address slavery at Commonwealth summit in

In short

King Charles III will deliver a speech on the transatlantic slave trade to Commonwealth leaders at CHOGM in Antigua on Tuesday.
Buckingham Palace said the King will speak with “unflinching honesty” and “sincere sorrow” about the trade’s lasting pain.
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham said he is “open” to a formal UK apology for slavery, a change in the government’s stance.
The British government has never formally apologised for slavery or offered to pay reparations.
The King is on a nine-day Caribbean tour and will have carried out about 36 engagements by its end.

King Charles III will address the transatlantic slave trade in a speech to Commonwealth leaders in Antigua on Tuesday, Buckingham Palace said, in remarks it says will carry “unflinching honesty” and “sincere sorrow” about the trade’s lasting pain. The address takes place at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), on the final leg of a nine-day Caribbean tour.

What did Buckingham Palace say about the speech?

A palace spokesperson said the King “will not shy away from confronting the most shameful aspects of the past during this visit”. “You may therefore expect him to address them in his speech with unflinching honesty, sincere sorrow, and respect for the wider discussions that will be taking place between relevant governments on this issue at CHOGM and beyond,” the spokesperson said.

Asked about the King’s reaction to the prime minister’s comments, the spokesperson said it would “not be appropriate” for the King to address matters of policy relating to “the UK Government’s position”. Royal sources stressed that decisions on whether to apologise are a matter for the government, not the palace.

What has Andy Burnham said about an apology?

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham said earlier that he was “open” to the possibility of the UK formally apologising for its role in slavery, a change in the government’s stance. In an opinion piece for the Guardian published on Friday night, Burnham described the transatlantic slave trade as a “brutal and barbaric violation” and said Britain “must face up to the past”. The palace was told in advance of the comments, and the King has not changed his speech in light of them, it is understood.

Has the UK ever formally apologised for slavery?

The British government has never formally apologised for slavery or offered to pay reparations. Burnham has previously followed the policy of his predecessors and stopped short of offering any consideration of reparation payments.

What has the King done on the rest of the tour?

In the Bahamas, the first stop of the tour, King Charles delivered a speech in which he spoke of the “suffering of the past”. In Guyana he visited the site of a slave rebellion where hundreds of enslaved people were killed. Buckingham Palace said the visit was a moment for the King to learn more about the history of slavery and resistance. His engagements have also covered the environment, opportunities for young people and trade relationships with the UK.

What is happening in Antigua?

Queen Camilla is travelling with the King. The couple will attend a church service in Antigua on Sunday morning before joining celebrations marking the island’s Independence Day. By the end of the nine-day tour the King will have carried out about 36 engagements, and he is due to celebrate his 78th birthday. He was diagnosed with cancer in early 2024 and remains on a “positive trajectory”, according to the palace.

How is the palace describing the King’s role?

“His Majesty is well practised on the diplomatic tightrope,” a royal aide said. “He is up for challenging visits with complex issues and relationships in play. He sees it as his role to ‘bat for Britain’, the Realms and wider Commonwealth.” A palace spokesperson said the Commonwealth, which has 56 members, has “scale and breadth, but is also small enough for leaders to know each other and co-operate together”.

Frequently asked questions

Will King Charles apologise for slavery in his Antigua speech?

Buckingham Palace did not say an apology would be issued. It said the King will address the slave trade with “unflinching honesty” and “sincere sorrow”, and that an apology is a matter for the UK government, not the palace.

Has the UK ever formally apologised for slavery?

No. The British government has never formally apologised for slavery or offered to pay reparations, although Prime Minister Andy Burnham said on Friday he was “open” to a formal apology.

Where is King Charles on his Caribbean tour?

The King is in Antigua, the final stop of a nine-day Caribbean tour that also took him to the Bahamas and Guyana, to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.