King Charles III Denounces Slave Trade as "Shameful Chapter" at Antigua Commonwealth Summit

King Charles III has publicly condemned the transatlantic slave trade, describing it as a "shameful chapter" in history. Speaking at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Antigua and Barbuda, the monarch conveyed that the legacy of slavery "fills my heart with horror."

The King's remarks represent a notable acknowledgement of the historical atrocities committed during the slave trade, a period which saw millions of Africans forcibly trafficked across the Atlantic. These comments were delivered during the formal opening of the CHOGM summit, an assembly of leaders from Commonwealth nations.

While the King's statement addresses the historical injustices, it does not include an explicit apology or mention of reparations, a topic of increasing discussion among former colonial powers and Caribbean nations. The Commonwealth, comprising 56 member states, many of which are former British colonies, continues to grapple with the lasting impacts of this exploitative history.