King stops short of offering formal apology over transatlantic slave trade

The King has told Commonwealth leaders the transatlantic slave trade “fills my heart with horror and my soul with the most profound personal sorrow”, but did not offer an apology.In his address to presidents and prime ministers, Charles said his commitment was growing to find ways to “address the wrongs of the past with action for the future”.He delivered his speech against the background of Prime Minister Andy Burnham announcing a change in long-established Government policy and making an offer of talks on a slavery apology but not financial reparations.The King told the leaders of the Commonwealth’s 56 member states meeting in Antigua: “Our history inspires us, can appal us, yet it can always teach us. We cannot change the actions of those who came before us. We can, however, learn from the past.“The transatlantic trade in enslaved persons still casts a shadow over these islands and other members of our Commonwealth. 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.“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.“The more I have furthered my own understanding of the issues, through listening, learning and looking, the more committed I have become to finding ways for us to work in modern partnership to address the wrongs of the past with action for the future.”The King addressed the leaders of the Commonwealth’s 56 member states (Ben Stansall/PA)PA WireCharles also told the gathering of world leaders: “None of us, of course, would be here today were it not for our history, which has shaped us in myriad ways.“History is not ours to choose or to change. It is bequeathed to us in complex synthesis by forebears we can never know.“Our inheritance includes both their achievements and their failures – the good they did as well as the wrongs.”Calls for an apology and reparations from the UK have been growing in recent years and St Lucia’s Prime Minister Philip J Pierre, chairman of the 15-member Caribbean Community (Caricom), has reportedly said the economic and political bloc was “ready to engage” in the structured dialogue Mr Burnham offered.The British Prime Minister said the UK wanted to “work closely with you to make sure we get that right” as he met the President of Ghana for one-to-one talks on the sidelines of the summit later on Tuesday.Andy Burnham and Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama (Kin Cheung/PA)PA WireExchanging warm words at the top of the meeting, John Dramani Mahama in turn said Britain had shown a “shift in some very strong positions” and is now “more open to interacting with the rest of the world” and the Commonwealth.Read MoreAfter the last Chogm in 2024, when Downing Street was resistant to any discussions about reparations, the Ghanaian leader said the new Prime Minister’s approach “creates a first step for us to continue to work to see how we can put this whole issue of transatlantic slave trade and colonialism behind us”.The area around the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (Chogm) opening ceremony was locked down for security with roads closed.At the perimeter was a small protest, with activists holding placards which read “You say you regret so apologise”, and “Apologise for the greatest crime against humanity and let’s have reparatory justice”.The area around the opening ceremony was locked down (Aaron Chown/PA)PA WireBritain’s royal family has a long association with the transportation and selling of enslaved people for profit.Elizabeth I backed the lucrative dealings of John Hawkins, one of Britain’s first slave traders, and Charles II encouraged the expansion of the enterprise.As the slavery abolitionists campaigned against the trade, they were opposed by the Duke of Clarence, George III’s son, later to become William IV.In his speech, which lasted around 15 minutes, Charles gave examples of how the Commonwealth can “address the wrongs of the past“.He said: “Through improving access to education, investing in jobs and opportunities, encouraging intra-Commonwealth trade, and inspiring vital climate resilience measures across the world, I have always felt that there is so much that can be done to help lift up those who struggle against hardship and disadvantage.“I have always tried to play my part in doing just that.”Speaking at Antigua and Barbuda’s national performing arts centre in the capital St John’s, Charles noted the Commonwealth did not have all the solutions to the crises engulfing the world, saying: “All around us, trust between nations is under critical strain, as international norms and systems are tested to their limits.“Brutal conflict stalks our world, destroying lives and casting long shadows across the globe. Technology is transforming our societies and our economies at dizzying speed, with little certainty about where it might lead us.”But the family of nations offered an “unparalleled opportunity to work together” and drew on the “collective ingenuity of a third of humanity” to address the challenges, the King said.Mr Burnham was among the heads of government sitting on stage as the King spoke along with their host, the prime minister of Antigua and Barbuda, Gaston Browne.The King and Andy Burnham speaking to Commonwealth leaders (Aaron Chown/PA)PA WireThe British Prime Minister later told the King his speech was “perfect”, adding: “Well done,” when Charles hosted a reception at a hotel for world leaders who had taken up office since the last Chogm.Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, the former Bank of England governor, echoed his words, telling the King his address was “very good”.The ceremony also featured speeches from Mr Browne and Commonwealth Secretary General Shirley Botchwey and a musical dance performance dramatising aspects of Antigua’s history.