LIVE: King Presides Over Commonwealth Summit as Pressure Mounts Over Slavery Apology
King Charles and Prime Minister Andy Burnham join Commonwealth leaders in Antigua and Barbuda, where the legacy of slavery is on the agenda. The government has advised the King to not apologize.
King Charles addressed the "brutal conflicts" the world is currently facing and called climate change a "catastrophic reality" that leaves nature under constant attack. He stated that technology was transforming societies and economies "at dizzying speed" with little certainty about where it will lead everyone. The monarch mentioned that together these challenges "comprise the crisis of our time".
Charles said that while the Commonwealth can't provide all the solutions, it can allow working together. The theme of this year's CHOGM - accelerating partnerships and investment for a prosperous Commonwealth - can represent a "vital opportunity".
The King also said the more he has deepened his understanding of the issues, the more committed he has become to “address the wrongs of the past with action for the future.”
Talking about some practical steps, he noted: better access to education, investment in jobs and opportunity, more 'inter-Commonwealth trade' and action on climate change. “I have always felt there is so much that can be done to help lift up those who struggle against hardship,” he said, adding that he has always tried to play his part.
The Commonwealth, he argued, is not only a product of the past but a response to the world of today. Its vocation, he said, is “more compelling than ever” in a “desperately troubled world.”
King Charles' speech, however, was not all serious. Expressing that he and Queen Camilla were"delighted" to attend the summit, he thanked Antigua and Barbuda for their "remarkable" hospitality. "For one of the smallest nations on earth, your impact in the world is tremendous, and I think there is great truth in the saying 'small island, big vibes," he said.
He further added that it was a "sobering" thought that he attended his first CHOGM almost 30 years ago.
King Charles acknowledges 'shameful chapter of history'
King Charles told Commonwealth leaders that history “is not ours to choose or to change,” but that it can always teach.
In his speech at CHOGM, the King said Commonwealth nations inherit both the achievements and the failures of those who came before. He said the past can appall, yet “we can, however, learn from the past.”
"Transatlantic trade and enslaved persons still cast a shadow. Over these islands, 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. And yet, history also teaches us that evil need not have the last word," he further added.
The monarch pointed to the campaign to end the slave trade, in which he said the Royal Navy played a leading role, as proof that character and courage can overcome injustice.
The speech will not include a formal apology. Buckingham Palace has said none is planned, and the King acts on government advice when abroad.
Ahead of King Charles' historic speech, Buckingham Palace has stated that his role as the Head of the Commonwealth is not political. An official spokesperson for the monarch also talked about his "longstanding belief that lasting solutions come from collaboration between governments, business, investors, philanthropy, and civil society".
Although the King will undoubtedly receive a polite reception, it won't negate the issues that have come up throughout the Caribbean tour - the UK's role in the slave trade and the pending apology and reparations.
King Charles had previously condemned the historical wrongdoings, and during the CHOGM meeting, he will reportedly speak with "sincere sorrow" and "unflinching honesty". He might not shy away from his country's colonial legacy. The sovereign had viewed some items from the era of slavery during a visit to a museum on Monday. It was another reminder of the dark past.
However, many in the audience will want a formal apology, reparations, or even the King's removal as their Head of State. It will be a tough room for the monarch.
Usually, King Charles' speeches during royal tours are written in collaboration with the Foreign Office in London and the embassy or high commission of the country he is visiting. However, his speech at the CHOGM will not follow that norm.
Speaking mainly as the leader of the Commonwealth, he has reportedly drafted his own speech for the significant meeting, alongside his advisors.
It is reported that the government is aware of the speech and, as per Palace aides, there will be "no surprises".
The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Antigua and Barbuda on Tuesday will bring together leaders and representatives from the 56 Commonwealth countries. It takes place every two years, with nations rotating hosting duties.
King Charles attended the last meeting in Samoa in 2024 alongside former PM Keir Starmer.
Ira Deokule