Calls for a Slavery Apology Follow the King to the Caribbean

The King set off on Tuesday on a nine day tour that will take him to the Bahamas, Guyana and Antigua and Barbuda, ending with the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. It is one of the most closely watched royal journeys in years, and the reason is not the itinerary.

Across the region, campaigners and senior politicians are asking for something the British government has ruled out: a formal apology for Britain's role in the transatlantic slave trade, and a serious conversation about reparations.

The Itinerary

According to the Buckingham Palace programme published earlier this month, His Majesty will spend three days in Nassau, where engagements include a youth rally, a visit to the Royal Bahamas Defence Force at Coral Harbour Base, environmental and sporting events, a ceremony at Parliament Square and a garden reception.

He then travels to Georgetown for two days in Guyana, where the programme includes the Commonwealth War Graves and the Global Biodiversity Alliance Conference. Queen Camilla joins him in Antigua and Barbuda, which hosts the Commonwealth leaders' summit from 1 to 4 November. The tour ends on Wednesday 4 November.

A Region Pressing for an Apology

The Guardian reported on Tuesday that the King is expected to deliver three significant speeches during the trip but will follow government advice not to issue a formal apology. The British government has also ruled out paying reparations.

Guyana's president, Irfaan Ali, has said he wants progress towards reparations, beginning with an apology. In the Bahamas, a Rastafarian leader, High Priest Richmond McKinney, told the Guardian he is organising a protest during the visit. "You say you regret slavery, but your regret is not good enough. We want a full apology from you," he said.

Dr Niambi Hall Campbell-Dean, who chairs the Bahamas National Reparations Committee, questioned the cost of hosting the visit and said the protests are meant both to remind the King of the demand and to raise awareness among Bahamians.

What the Palace Has Said

A palace spokesperson has said the programme will not shy away from "the darkest days of our past", while being "principally oriented to the vibrant present and promising future" of the countries visited, Al Jazeera reported.

The King has gone further than his predecessors in acknowledging the monarchy's historic links to slavery, having spoken previously of "sorrow" and "deep regret". Critics say that language is no longer enough. Labour MP Bell Ribeiro-Addy, who chairs the all party parliamentary group for Afrikan reparations, told the Guardian that "it would be wrong to think that we can continue with platitudes", and noted that the King of the Netherlands apologised for his country's role in slavery.

Why the Stakes Are High

The visit comes four years after the Prince and Princess of Wales's 2022 Caribbean tour, which drew criticism across the region. Since then, a United Nations resolution tabled by Ghana has declared the transatlantic slave trade the gravest crime against humanity, and Jamaica has petitioned the King over slavery reparations, a case due to be heard by the Privy Council next March.

Support for the monarchy in the Bahamas is also far from settled. A 2023 poll by Lord Ashcroft found that 51 per cent of Bahamians wanted the country to become a republic, against 27 per cent who wanted to keep the King as head of state.

There is no formal agenda item on reparations at the Commonwealth summit. But Professor Sir Hilary Beckles, chair of the Caribbean Community reparations commission, has said it will be "the number one item on the table" for Caribbean delegates.

What to Watch

The King's speeches in Nassau, Georgetown and St John's will be read closely for any shift in tone. Historian Patrick Vernon, the UK representative of the Global Jamaica Diaspora Council, called the trip "the biggest crossroads for the Commonwealth since its creation."

Whether the tour is remembered for its warm receptions or for the protests that greet it may depend on how far the King's words travel beyond regret. Duchess Magazine will follow each stage of the visit.