King Charles III acknowledged the "shameful chapter" of the transatlantic slave trade, stating it "fills my heart with horror and my soul with the most profound personal sorrow." Speaking in Antigua and Barbuda at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, the King emphasized that history cannot be altered. "History is not ours to choose or to change," he said. "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."
Charles, accompanied by Queen Camilla, delivered his keynote address amid ongoing discussions about reparations. He noted that the slave trade "still casts a shadow" over Commonwealth nations in the Caribbean. "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," he added.
The monarch stressed the importance of learning from history and working in modern partnership to address past wrongs. "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," he stated.
He concluded by drawing an analogy to sailing, suggesting that while one cannot command the winds of the past, one can choose how to set sails for the future. "The Commonwealth of today is not merely a product of the past – it is a response to the world of today. Its vocation is more compelling than ever," he remarked.
The meeting's context included calls for reparations from Antigua and Barbuda's Prime Minister, Gaston Browne, who has previously expressed his country's desire to eventually remove Charles as head of state. Browne stated that the time had come for a "meaningful, truthful and respectful conversation on reparatory justice" and urged "structured, inclusive dialogue on the enduring consequences of slavery and colonialism."
Prior to the King's speech, Buckingham Palace had indicated he would address the issue with "unflinching honesty, sincere sorrow, and respect."