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By Jack Royston
Chief Royal Correspondent
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King Charles III risked controversy by stating the Royal Navy "played such a leading role" in ending slavery while acknowledging the suffering caused by the "shameful chapter" in Britain's history in a speech to the leaders of Commonwealth nations.
Charles spoke in St John’s, Antigua, days after British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said he was open to discussing an apology for slavery but ruled out reparations.
Why It Matters
The British Monarchy has for years been under pressure to do more to acknowledge its past links to the trade in enslaved people and it is unusual for Britain's head of state to mount even a partial defense of the United Kingdom's actions.
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What King Charles Said About Slavery
The king's comments came at the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Antigua on Tuesday.
"We cannot change the actions of those who came before us," Charles said. "We can, however, learn from the past. The trans-Atlantic trade in enslaved persons still casts a shadow over these islands and other members of our Commonwealth.
"As I have said before, that shameful chapter of history is one that fills my heart with horror and my soul with the most profound personal sorrow."
Those comments echo the king's past remarks on the subject and were expected to be included in the speech to set the tone for a leaders' summit at which the issue of slavery was always likely to be discussed.
"And yet history also teaches us that evil need not have the last word," Charles said. "That character and courage can combine to overcome the most monstrous injustice, as they did with the determination to end international trade in enslaved people, in which the Royal Navy played such a leading role."
Charles is not the first public figure in Britain to put forward the argument that Britain's connection to slavery is not only negative. Kemi Badenoch, leader of Britain's opposition Conservative Party, said on Sunday that Britain should not apologize, citing Britain's role in ending slavery.
The king continued: "The more I have furthered my own understanding of the issues, through listening, learning and looking, the more committed I have become to finding ways for us to work in modern partnership to address the wrongs of the past with action for the future."
The Debate About Slavery in Britain
Badenoch wrote in a post on X on Sunday: "When will the demands stop? Everyone knows the trans-Atlantic slave trade was wrong. Britain played a huge role in stopping it.
"So when it comes to the question of reparations, my answer is no. It’s time for the Commonwealth to start looking forwards, not backwards."
Her comments followed a piece by the Prime Minister Andy Burnham in The Guardian suggesting he might be open to an apology but ruling out reparations.
"Listening to calls for a formal apology on behalf of the British state will form an important part of this process, and I am open to them," he wrote.
"Some have called for financial reparations for the slave trade. I do not believe that is the right answer. I do not think that British people today can be held liable for historical wrongs, however heinous, that happened in a different age under different laws and in which they played no personal part."
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Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Daniel Orton and Oliver Pritchard.
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