UK king to voice ‘sorrow’ for slavery as PM mulls possible apology

King Charles III will express “sincere sorrow” about Britain’s role in slavery when he opens a meeting of Commonwealth leaders Tuesday, as Prime Minister Andy Burnham begins talks over a formal apology.

The monarch is expected to confront “shameful aspects” of UK history with “unflinching honesty” during his address in Antigua and Barbuda, Buckingham Palace has said.

It comes as Burnham uses his appearance at the summit to hold discussions with Commonwealth heads of government about formally apologising for Britain’s role in the transatlantic slave trade.

The Labour premier, in office since July, said at the weekend that he was open to saying sorry but ruled out paying the financial reparations demanded by some Caribbean countries.

Britain’s pivotal part in slavery — in which about 10-15 million slaves were brought from Africa to the Americas over four centuries — has long strained relations between the UK and its former colonies in the 56-member Commonwealth.

Britain’s royal family benefited from the trade but Charles is politically neutral and is not expected to offer an apology.

A palace spokesperson also said “it would not be appropriate” for the king to announce a change in government policy.

Burnham discussed slavery with Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley during a meeting on Monday, one of several bilateral chats the prime minister is expected to have at the summit.

They discussed how Britain “was offering a structured dialogue for communities impacted by the transatlantic slave trade”, including the “next steps”, Downing Street said.

Burnham wrote in the Guardian on Saturday that he would have “difficult conversations” to safeguard the Commonwealth’s future.

“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,” Burnham wrote.

He insisted, however, that reparations were not “not the right answer”, saying British people today should not be “held liable for historical wrongs, however heinous”.

– ‘Great suffering’ –

Instead, London is pursuing a “debt reset” plan for the poorest Commonwealth countries, led by former Labour prime minister Gordon Brown and which could alter interest rates on repayments.

The UK will also allocate o40 million over three years for infrastructure improvements in the Caribbean.

The issue of slavery has loomed large over 77-year-old Charles’s ongoing nine-day visit to three Caribbean countries.

When the king arrived in The Bahamas last week, small groups of protesters waved placards reading: “Pay what you owe us.”

The monarch acknowledged “the great suffering of the past” during that stop.

Britain has never formally apologised for slavery or agreed to pay reparations.

The BBC reported Tuesday that Britain was likely to apologise during its G20 presidency next year.

The country profited for centuries from colonialism and slavery, but argues it also led the way in the latter’s abolition.

In 1833, the UK parliament passed a law to abolish slavery in most of the British Empire.

Opposition Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has said Britain should not apologise, arguing it would boost countries’ claims for financial compensation.