King Charles III has described the transatlantic slave trade as a "shameful chapter of history" that fills him with "profound sorrow." He made these remarks during an address opening a summit of Commonwealth leaders in Antigua and Barbuda, stating that the trade "still casts a shadow" over the association of nations.
Calls for a formal apology from the UK for its historical role in the slave trade preceded the King's address. While no direct apology was issued, King Charles acknowledged his personal learning about the legacy of the slave trade and expressed contrition.
"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," he told the summit. He also noted that "History is not ours to choose or to change. It is bequeathed to us in complex synthesis by forebears we can never know."
The King's visit to the Caribbean, alongside Queen Camilla, has reignited discussions about the UK's colonial legacy in the region. Earlier in the tour, during a visit to the Bahamas, the King spoke of the "suffering of the past," and in Guyana, he visited a site commemorating a slave rebellion.
The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) brings together leaders from 56 member states, primarily former territories of the British Empire, every two years. This year's summit theme is "Accelerating Partnerships and Investment for a Prosperous Commonwealth."
King Charles also referenced "brutal conflicts" and the "catastrophic reality" of climate change in his address, alongside rapid technological development.