King Charles to address slavery during Commonwealth speech in Antigua

King Charles III will deliver a speech to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Antigua on Tuesday during the final leg of his nine-day Caribbean tour, BBC News reported. Buckingham Palace stated that the King will address the transatlantic slave trade with unflinching honesty and sincere sorrow. [1]

The arrival of the King in Antigua and Barbuda comes as the debate over historical slavery persists, according to the London Evening Standard and Bernama. The Guardian reported that King Charles III and British Prime Minister Andy Burnham face protests demanding reparations at the Antigua summit. Bernama also reported that the King will attend Antigua and Barbuda's Independence Parade. [3][4][6]

BBC News reported that Prime Minister Andy Burnham stated earlier that he was open to the possibility of the United Kingdom formally apologizing for its role in slavery. The Palace was informed in advance of the comments made by the Prime Minister in an opinion piece on Friday night. [1]

As FTMQ News reported earlier, King Charles III began his nine-day Caribbean tour in the Bahamas on a trip that also included Guyana before concluding in Antigua and Barbuda. Prime Minister Burnham previously ruled out paying financial reparations for Britain's role in transatlantic slavery while remaining open to a formal apology. [9][10]