Key facts
- King Charles III will address the transatlantic slave trade in Antigua on Tuesday.
- Buckingham Palace stated the King will speak with "unflinching honesty" and "sincere sorrow".
- The King's speech will touch on the UK's colonial legacy.
- Prime Minister Andy Burnham expressed openness to a formal UK apology for slavery.
King Charles III is set to address the lasting pain of the transatlantic slave trade with "unflinching honesty" and "sincere sorrow" during a speech in Antigua on Tuesday. The remarks will be made at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) as part of the final leg of his Caribbean tour. Buckingham Palace stated the King will confront "the most shameful aspects of the past" during his visit, which has focused on the UK's colonial legacy, the environment, youth opportunities, and trade relationships. The King's speech comes after UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham indicated a shift in government stance, expressing openness to a formal apology for the UK's role in slavery. Royal sources emphasized that decisions regarding an apology are a government matter, not for the Palace.