King Charles acknowledges slavery's suffering on Caribbean tour as apology demands grow
He confirmed Commonwealth leaders will discuss slavery's legacy in Antigua, while Buckingham Palace says he will not apologise or offer reparations.
King Charles III began a nine-day Caribbean tour on Tuesday in the Bahamas. At a youth rally in Nassau, he said Bahamian culture was "born out of darkness" and that it was right to acknowledge the "great suffering of the past." He confirmed that Commonwealth leaders will discuss the legacy of slavery at their summit in Antigua and Barbuda.
The Bahamas National Reparations Committee said his words fell "short of what justice requires," meaning a full and formal apology. A group of protesters near the rally shouted "pay us what you owe us." Buckingham Palace said the king will address the colonial legacy but, in line with UK government policy, will not apologise or offer reparations.
As a constitutional monarch, he acts on government advice. He arrived in Guyana on Thursday, where President Irfaan Ali has called an apology the "next step." The tour ends at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, which brings together leaders of 56 countries.
A poll by More in Common, published by the Repair Campaign, found 40% of Britons back a meeting on reparatory justice and 19% are undecided.
Three sides of the story
Liberal8 outlets
The Guardian, CBS News and ABC News (carrying an AP report) centre on pressure from Caribbean voices. The Guardian quotes Ralph Gonsalves, the Bahamian reparations committee chair Niambi Hall Campbell-Dean and Hilary Beckles, and reports a poll showing higher support for reparations talks among young Britons and Labour voters. It adds that the government has not advised the king to apologise.
CBS describes protesters at the Junkanoo parade and quotes experts who say royals fear legal claims. It also quotes a Barbadian economist who rejects reparations calls, and gives historical figures, including the £20 million paid to slave owners after abolition. ABC/AP covers his arrival in Guyana, quoting Ali's call for an apology and noting that the British government has consistently rejected apology and reparations.
The New York Times reports the king faces calls for reparations and apologies on the tour.
Center2 outlets
BBC News and UPI report the Bahamas speech and the reaction to it. Both quote the king's line about culture born out of darkness and note that he confirmed slavery will be on the Commonwealth agenda. The BBC adds details of the arrival, a student's comment, about a dozen protesters, and the king's remarks on climate change.
It also reports the palace's statement that the king will not apologise or offer reparations, in line with government policy. UPI gives more space to the Bahamas National Reparations Committee's criticism and the Repair Campaign poll, with Gonsalves urging an apology. It also explains that a constitutional monarch follows government advice.
A BBC video item shows the king dancing in Nassau's streets and notes his reference to the suffering of the past.
Conservative2 outlets
Breitbart News frames the visit around demands for reparations and the cost involved. It reports the king's remarks, including his praise for Bahamians' pride in their ancestors' legacy, and the committee's criticism. It cites the committee's earlier estimate that the UK owes about £18.8 trillion ($25tn) to 14 nations and compares that with UK annual .
It quotes the spokesman for Prime Minister Andy Burnham saying the UK "does not and will not pay reparations," and notes Jamaica's court challenge. It also stresses Britain's role in ending the slave trade, citing the Royal Navy squadron's seizures of ships, the Africans freed and 1,587 British crew who died. The Washington Times reports the king's arrival in Guyana on Thursday.
Which side made the stronger case?
All sources: 23 articles from 12 outlets
Liberal (17)
- ABC News: The UK's stance on its role in the slave trade is shifting, but reparations remain off the table
- ABC News: UK PM signals the government will consider an apology for its role in the slave trade
- ABC News: King Charles III arrives in Guyana as part of official nine-day Caribbean trip
- Al Jazeera English: A response to Andy Burnham: We need an apology and reparations (opinion)
- CBS News: King faces calls for apology, slavery reparations in Caribbean
- HuffPost: U.K. Leader Burnham Hints At Apology For Country's Role In Slave Trade But Rejects Reparations
- NBC News: U.K. PM open to slave trade apology but rules out financial reparations
- The Boston Globe: King Charles III speaks to world leaders in Antigua, expresses ‘sorrow’ over slave trade
- The Guardian (US): PM to ask countries affected by UK’s role in slavery to help shape formal apology
- The Guardian (US): UK was ‘vehement’ slavery reparations should not be on Commonwealth summit agenda
- The Guardian (US): ‘Reparations now’: King and Burnham face protests at Antigua Commonwealth summit
- The Guardian (US): King Charles to discuss legacy of slavery with Commonwealth leaders at summit
- The Guardian (US): ‘We want a full apology for slavery’: Commonwealth at a crossroads as king heads to the Caribbean
Center (3)
- BBC News: Watch: King dances in the streets of the Bahamas capital
- BBC News: King acknowledges 'suffering of the past' as Caribbean tour begins
- UPI: King Charles tells Bahamians he recognizes 'great suffering of the past'
Conservative (3)
- Breitbart News: King Charles Faces Demands Britain Pay Slavery Reparations During Bahamas Visit
- The Washington Times: U.K. leader Burnham hints at apology for country's role in slave trade but rejects reparations
- The Washington Times: King Charles III arrives in Guyana as part of official 9-day Caribbean trip
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