King Charles Expresses ‘Profound Sorrow’ Over Legacy of Slave Trade at Antigua CHOGM

Caribbean leaders continue to call for reparations after King Charles stopped short of issuing a formal apology for colonial-era slavery during his Antigua visit.

Published On 3 Nov 20263 Nov 2026

During the official opening of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Antigua and Barbuda, King Charles III described the transatlantic slave trade as filling him with “horror” and “the most profound personal sorrow.”

The British monarch stated that the horrors of the slave trade “still cast a shadow over these Caribbean islands and other members of our Commonwealth,” while acknowledging the Royal Navy’s historical role in suppressing the transatlantic slave trade.

“We cannot change the actions of those who came before us,” the King remarked. “We can, however, learn from the past and strive to build a better future.”

He outlined initiatives aimed at addressing historical injustices through improved educational access, job creation, enhanced trade among Commonwealth nations, and increased climate resilience.

However, the speech fell short of the formal apology widely hoped for by Caribbean and African nations, offering no concrete measures to address the deep-rooted economic and social legacies of slavery.

Prior to the tour, Buckingham Palace had confirmed that the King would not offer a formal apology for slavery during his visits to Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, and Guyana.

Guyanese President Mohamed Irfaan Ali has since argued that a formal apology from the King represents an essential next step toward reconciliation.

The contentious issue of reparations came to the fore at the 2024 Commonwealth summit in Samoa, where leaders pushed for reparations discussions despite strong opposition from the then-British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer.

More recently, British Prime Minister Andy Burnham indicated that the UK might be open to a formal apology, though he firmly ruled out financial reparations.

In an op-ed for The Guardian, Burnham wrote of his desire “to express my sorrow and regret for the pain and suffering of so many millions of people.”

He also proposed leading a major debt restructuring initiative to support the Commonwealth’s most economically vulnerable nations.

Ahead of the King’s address, a small group of protesters gathered outside the venue, holding signs that read, “Acknowledge the wrong. Commit to repair.”

“Technically, we are free, but mentally, many of us are not,” said local protester Shana Michelle. “An apology is necessary; that is where the process of repair must begin.”

The summit was attended by key global leaders, including British Prime Minister Andy Burnham, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.

Representing the Commonwealth’s 56 member nations, Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne emphasized that “no nation should be forced to mortgage its future simply to survive its present.”

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