King Charles III is expected to acknowledge Britain’s role in the transatlantic slave trade during his upcoming Caribbean tour but will not issue a formal apology or offer reparations, Buckingham Palace has confirmed.
The King and Queen Camilla are scheduled to visit the Bahamas, Guyana and Antigua and Barbuda from October 27 to November 4. Charles will visit the Bahamas and Guyana on his own before being joined by Camilla in Antigua and Barbuda, where they will attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) from November 1–4.
- Advertisement -
A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said the tour would not shy away from what Charles has described as the “darkest days of our past,” referring to Britain’s involvement in slavery and colonialism. The Palace said the King has worked to acknowledge historical wrongs and address inequalities that persist, and that the visit would renew his commitment to that process.
However, the Palace said questions surrounding a formal apology and reparations are primarily matters for governments. Charles acts on the advice of British ministers and has not been advised by the government to issue an apology or offer reparations. The British government has also reiterated its position that it will not pay financial reparations for slavery.
Charles has previously expressed sorrow over slavery and described it as an “appalling atrocity” that “stains” Britain’s history. During a 2021 visit to Barbados as the country became a republic, he also acknowledged the pain caused by Britain’s involvement in the slave trade.
The issue is expected to feature prominently during CHOGM, where Caribbean leaders have been pressing for reparatory justice. Jamaica has separately filed a petition asking Charles, in his capacity as head of state, to refer three legal questions concerning the legality of chattel slavery and the transatlantic slave trade to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council. The Jamaican Government has stressed that the petition does not make a monetary claim but seeks legal determinations concerning slavery and Britain’s potential obligation to provide a reparatory remedy.
The petition asks whether the seizure, transportation and enslavement of Africans as chattel were lawful under English law, whether the practices breached international law and whether the United Kingdom has a legal obligation to provide a reparatory remedy to the people of Jamaica. Charles has referred the petition for consideration through the relevant legal process.
The upcoming tour therefore comes at a time of renewed debate across the Caribbean over slavery’s legacy and the responsibilities of former colonial powers. While Charles is expected to address the historical record and the continuing impact of slavery, the Palace has indicated that the visit will also focus on the present and future relationship between Britain and the Caribbean nations he will visit.
