Monarch in Antigua: Charles cites sorrow over slave trade, skips apology

King Charles III stood before the assembled heads of government in Antigua and Barbuda on Tuesday and spoke of the transatlantic slave trade. He described the historical practice as a source of horror and profound personal sorrow. The British monarch told the audience that slavery still casts a shadow over the Caribbean islands and other Commonwealth members.

The King acknowledged the Royal Navy’s leading role in ending the trade. He stated that leaders cannot change the actions of predecessors, but they can learn from the past. To address historic wrongs, he proposed widening access to education and investing in employment. He also called for promoting trade between Commonwealth countries and supporting climate resilience.

The speech stopped short of the formal apology many Caribbean and African nations had expected. Charles offered no specific measures to redress the economic and social damage left by slavery. Buckingham Palace had previously indicated that no formal apology would occur during his Caribbean tour, which also included stops in the Bahamas and Guyana.

Guyanese President Mohamed Irfaan Ali told an interviewer that an apology should be the King’s next move. The issue of reparations surfaced at the previous summit in Samoa in 2024. Leaders there called for discussions on the topic despite opposition from then-Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham addressed the topic last week. He said the United Kingdom is open to a formal apology while ruling out financial reparations. In a piece for The Guardian, Burnham expressed sorrow and regret for the suffering of millions. He proposed leading a debt restructuring program to assist the poorest Commonwealth nations.

Protesters gathered outside the venue before the speech began. They carried signs reading, “Acknowledge the wrong. Commit to repair.” Shana Michelle, a resident of Antigua, said the group is technically free but not mentally. She argued that an apology is the starting point for repair.

Burnham, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney attended the opening session. The Commonwealth includes 56 member nations. Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne told the gathering that no nation should mortgage its future to survive its present.