Buckingham Palace: Slavery Apology Decision Falls to Government, Not the King

Senior figures close to the British Royal Family have confirmed that the decision on an official apology for the transatlantic slave trade falls within the government's authority, not Buckingham Palace, amid escalating debate ahead of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Antigua and Barbuda.

A Buckingham Palace spokesperson told the BBC that King Charles III will deliver a speech at the summit on Tuesday, noting that he "will not shy away from confronting the most shameful events of the past," and is expected to express "genuine sincerity and authentic sorrow" in his remarks. However, the same spokesperson declined to comment on the King's position regarding the government's policy stance on this matter.

Prime Minister Bernham had written in The Guardian, describing the transatlantic slave trade as "barbaric," and signaled openness to hearing calls for an official apology and initiating dialogue with those affected by the Atlantic slave trade. He nonetheless ruled out compensation, arguing that "today's British people cannot be held responsible for the errors of a past era that operated under different laws."

King Charles had previously indicated in a speech delivered in the Bahamas on October 27 the need to "acknowledge the pain and injustice suffered by these islands and neighboring territories in the past." In Guyana, the King visited the region where a famous slave uprising occurred, which prompted criticism concerning the Royal Family's investment in and protection of the slave trade.