The secretary-general of the Commonwealth, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, has suggested that King Charles III should apologise for the transatlantic slave trade and that the time has come to begin discussions on reparations. Speaking ahead of the King’s upcoming tour of the Caribbean, which will include a major Commonwealth leaders’ summit, Botchwey said that several Commonwealth countries had requested an official apology and that such a gesture “wouldn’t hurt at all.” She emphasized the importance of determining the appropriate form reparations might take, proposing options such as concessional financing, debt treatment, addressing climate change issues, and the return of artefacts.
The King, who is head of the Commonwealth, is set to visit the Caribbean next week, and Buckingham Palace has indicated that he will not avoid confronting aspects of the United Kingdom’s historical wrongs during the visit. A Palace spokesperson highlighted the King’s long-standing personal commitment to acknowledging past injustices and seeking creative solutions to address continuing inequalities.
In 2021, when he was the Prince of Wales, Charles described slavery as a stain on history, and in 2022 he stated he was deepening his understanding of slavery’s enduring impact. However, the official stance from Buckingham Palace remains that formal apologies and reparations are matters for the UK government rather than the monarchy.
The UK government has reiterated its position that it will not pay reparations. A government spokesperson acknowledged the horrific impact of the transatlantic slave trade and the strong feelings it continues to evoke but confirmed that the UK "does not and will not pay reparations." Ed Miliband, the UK Foreign Secretary, who is expected to attend the Commonwealth summit alongside Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, has also voiced skepticism about reparations as a solution, stating, “I don’t think reparations are the answer.”
Meanwhile, Caribbean nations continue to press the issue. Last month, Jamaica’s Minister for Culture, Olivia Grange, said King Charles III had referred a petition concerning reparations to the Privy Council, the highest court of appeal in the Caribbean, indicating ongoing legal and political engagement with the matter.
The upcoming Commonwealth summit in the Caribbean is likely to be a focal point for discussions about the legacy of slavery, reparations, and the broader relationship between the UK and its former colonies within the Commonwealth framework. Perspectives remain divided on the best way to address historical grievances, with calls for acknowledgment and material redress balanced against official UK government resistance to reparations payments.