LONDON — Buckingham Palace has sought to distance King Charles III from rows over whether the UK should apologise and make reparations for its part in the Atlantic slave trade, stating that the monarch's role as head of the Commonwealth is limited to inspiring and convening nations rather than making policy.
The statement comes as Commonwealth leaders gather for a summit in Antigua and Barbuda, where the King is expected to deliver a speech on Tuesday acknowledging the painful legacy of slavery. While the King is anticipated to voice sincere sorrow for the suffering of the past, any formal apology or action on reparations would be a decision for political leaders, as the King must speak on the advice of ministers.
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham suggested there could be some form of apology over slavery but has ruled out financial reparations. The British government has never formally apologised for slavery or offered to pay reparations. On Saturday, the prime minister said the UK "must face up to the past" over the "brutal and barbaric violation" of the slave trade and that he was open to the possibility of a formal apology. However, a day later, his official spokesperson clarified that Burnham's expression of sorrow was distinct from a formal apology.
Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband said the UK was self-confident enough to have this conversation, adding that the dialogue being set up will consider whether and how a formal apology could help acknowledge history, heal divisions and support stronger relationships for the future. Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch rejected endless talk about apologies as a distraction from solving the UK's current problems.
Gaston Brown, Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, the host country, said the consequences of slavery have not disappeared with the passage of time and wants to discuss reparations. On previous occasions, the King has used strong language, talking about his greatest sorrow and regret at the abhorrent and unjustifiable acts of violence of the colonial era on a visit to Kenya. In Antigua, he is expected to voice his sincere sorrow, having spoken about the great suffering of the past in the Bahamas last week.
The Palace sets out the King's role as a unifying figure above such divisions, with the Commonwealth described as a family of nations. The King's most significant contribution has been helping to connect leaders, institutions and investors — many of whom he knows personally from his many years of international diplomacy, the Palace said, relating to shared areas of interest and concern creating the conditions in which ambitious Commonwealth-led initiatives can emerge and succeed.
