King Charles III will speak about the lasting pain of the transatlantic slave trade with "unflinching honesty" and "sincere sorrow" during the final leg of his Caribbean tour in Antigua, Buckingham Palace has said. The King is due to address Commonwealth leaders on Tuesday at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).
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.
The speech follows comments from Prime Minister Andy Burnham, who 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. It is understood the Palace was told in advance of Burnham's comments, made in an opinion piece on Friday night, and that the King has not made any changes to his speech in light of them. The British government has never formally apologised for slavery or offered to pay reparations, and Burnham has previously stuck with the policy of his predecessors, stopping short of offering any consideration of reparation payments.
When asked about the King's reaction to the prime minister's remarks, 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 have stressed that decisions around making an apology are a matter for government, not the Palace. "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."
Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch described "endless talk about apologies" as a "distraction" from solving current problems. She told BBC Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg: "The transatlantic slave trade happened centuries ago. It is time for the Commonwealth to start looking forwards, not endlessly backwards."
The tour has repeatedly brought the King into debates over the UK's colonial legacy in the region. On his first stop in the Bahamas, he delivered a speech in which he spoke of the "suffering of the past", and 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, and his engagements have also covered the environment, opportunities for young people and trade relationships with the UK.
In his Guardian article, Burnham described the transatlantic slave trade as a "brutal and barbaric violation" and said Britain "must face up to the past". His separate pledge to strengthen the work of the Commonwealth as an organisation is expected to be welcomed by the King, who views the collection of 56 countries as a powerful vehicle for change. The King will give the opening speech at CHOGM, which gathers leaders from those 56 states every two years in a different part of the Commonwealth; this year's meeting is officially themed Accelerating Partnerships and Investment for a Prosperous Commonwealth.
Queen Camilla is with the King in Antigua. The couple attended a church service on Sunday morning before joining celebrations to mark Independence Day on the island. The Bishop of North Eastern Caribbean and Aruba, Ernest Flemming, told the congregation that the "prosperity" of the Commonwealth must be a "shared prosperity", adding: "True partnership requires mutual respect, it requires listening, it requires fairness." A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said: "Institutions are under strain across the globe. The Commonwealth has scale and breadth, but is also small enough for leaders to know each other and co-operate together." The King, the spokesperson said, "contributes ideas and encouragement on a wide range of issues, delivering practical results which help improve the lives of millions".
The tour comes after a difficult few months for the King, including developments surrounding his brother, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, and the publication of a book by his former brother-in-law, Earl Spencer. In addition, his son the Duke of Sussex made a surprise move back to the UK with his wife Meghan and their two children in August. Asked whether the King was confident that his approach to family matters had been the right one in terms of public attitudes towards the institution, a senior aide told the BBC: "Yes. That is why he takes the actions he does - and has done." On allegations that have emerged about Meghan's father, Thomas Markle, the Palace said: "We wouldn't comment on private family matters."
The King is also still being treated for cancer. He was diagnosed in early 2024 and the Palace says he remains on a "positive trajectory". In hot and humid conditions, he will soon celebrate his 78th birthday and will have carried out about 36 engagements by the end of the nine-day tour of the Caribbean.
Sources: BBC News UK.