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King calls slave trade a 'shameful chapter' during Commonwealth address
BBC • • general
Key Points:
- King Charles described the transatlantic slave trade as a "shameful chapter of history" that fills him with "profound sorrow" during the Commonwealth summit in the Caribbean.
- Despite calls for a formal UK apology for its historic role in the slave trade, the King did not issue one in his address, though he expressed personal contrition and acknowledged his growing understanding of the legacy.
- Prime Minister Andy Burnham indicated openness to a formal apology but dismissed financial reparations as "not the right answer."
- The King emphasized the importance of acknowledging history's complexities, including both achievements and wrongs, and committed to working in partnership to address past injustices with future action.
- The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (Chogm) in Antigua and Barbuda, attended by leaders from 56 states, has sparked renewed discussions on the UK's colonial legacy amid the royal Caribbean tour.
