Key facts
- King Charles III will acknowledge "darkest days" of colonial rule and slavery on his Caribbean tour.
- The King's tour includes visits to the Bahamas, Guyana, and Antigua and Barbuda.
- Buckingham Palace stated the King's remarks are guided by government policy, which rejects reparations.
- Jamaica's culture minister intended to present a petition seeking a legal opinion on reparations.
- Buckingham Palace confirmed the King would not personally receive Jamaica's petition.
King Charles III will acknowledge the “darkest days” of colonial rule and slavery during his upcoming Caribbean tour, a Buckingham Palace spokesperson said. The King and Queen Camilla are set to travel to Antigua and Barbuda for the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting, with visits also to Bahamas and Guyana as part of the eight-day trip starting on October 27.
According to PA news agency, it is understood the government has not advised the King to apologize or offer reparations. The King has previously expressed his "personal sorrow" at the UK's role in slavery. A palace spokesperson said: "There are important discussions taking place in various fora about colonial legacy and the intergenerational impact of the transatlantic trade in enslaved persons. While these are primarily matters for Governments to address, His Majesty's previous statements on them have been unequivocal, describing them as an 'atrocity' which 'forever stains our history'." The palace said the tour will "principally be oriented to the vibrant present and promising future of each country".