King Charles to Address Britain’s Slavery Past on Caribbean Tour, but No Apology Planned

King Charles will not avoid addressing Britain’s role in the transatlantic slave trade during his Caribbean tour later this month, Buckingham Palace said on Friday.

The palace made clear, however, that the king will not offer a formal apology for what it described as “the darkest days of our past.”

The announcement places Britain’s history of slavery in focus ahead of the visit, with the palace drawing a distinction between acknowledging that past and formally apologising for it.

Charles’s approach means the subject will not be left unaddressed during the tour. But the palace’s statement sets a clear limit on that engagement: recognition of Britain’s role will not be accompanied by an official apology.