The key facts

  • King Charles III will visit three countries over nine days and speak at the CHOGM summit in St. John's from November 1 to 4.
  • Jamaica filed a petition in London's Court of Appeal in September seeking reparations.
  • No British monarch has formally apologized for the slave trade to date.

Tour across three countries

King Charles III begins a nine-day Caribbean tour on Tuesday, a journey overshadowed by demands for an apology and reparations for the transatlantic slave trade, which he himself has described as the 'darkest days' of British history. The 77-year-old monarch, who is undergoing treatment for cancer, will first visit the Bahamas and Guyana on solo trips before Queen Camilla joins him for the final leg in Antigua and Barbuda. There, the King will address the biennial Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), taking place in St. John's from November 1 to 4. This is reported by AFP.

Pressure regarding reparations

According to a Buckingham Palace spokesperson, the itinerary 'will not shy away from the darkest days of our past.' Nevertheless, several former colonies are urging the King to take the next step. Last month, Jamaica, where Charles serves as head of state, filed a petition with the London Court of Appeal 'to advance Jamaica's efforts for reparations for African ancestors who suffered centuries of enslavement.' Guyanese President Irfaan Ali, who is set to meet the King, told ITV News that acknowledging the 'dark days' is merely a 'first step,' while 'moving toward an apology is the next,' demanding accountability from the former empire, which he said 'exploited the region,' 'destroyed lives,' and 'created underdevelopment.' While modern monarchs have expressed varying degrees of regret over Britain's role in the slave trade, none has formally apologized, and London has avoided the concept of financial compensation.

Summit and agenda

Commonwealth Secretary-General Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey told Sky News that an apology 'would not have hurt' the King and that the time to discuss reparations, whether in the form of financial payments or other measures, has 'arrived.' She stated that the issue of reparative justice could be raised by leaders at the meeting in St. John's, and the Commonwealth would support nations in these negotiations. Buckingham Palace, for its part, insists that the tour is an opportunity for Caribbean nations to look forward and address pressing issues such as climate change. The King, who has long been engaged in environmental issues, will visit a coral reef restoration project in Antigua and Barbuda and a rainforest conservation program in Guyana, as well as participate in Antigua and Barbuda's independence celebrations and meet with young leaders.