King Charles to Address Britain’s Slavery Past on Caribbean Tour, but Will Not Apologise

King Charles will address Britain’s role in the transatlantic slave trade during his Caribbean tour later this month, but will not offer a formal apology, Buckingham Palace said on Friday.

The palace said the king would not shy away from the subject, describing the period as among “the darkest days of our past”.

The announcement places Britain’s historical involvement in slavery on the agenda for the visit, while drawing a clear distinction between acknowledging that legacy and formally apologising for it.

Britain’s role in the transatlantic slave trade remains a sensitive issue in the Caribbean. The palace’s statement signals that Charles will engage with that history, but stops short of the formal gesture an apology would represent.