King Charles to address 'darkest days' of colonial rule on Caribbean tour
King Charles III will tour the Bahamas, Guyana, and Antigua and Barbuda in late October, pledging to acknowledge the 'darkest days' of Britain's colonial past and slavery. Buckingham Palace says the issue won't be avoided, though no formal apology or reparations are planned.
Buckingham Palace announced on Friday that King Charles III will not shy away from what he has previously called the 'darkest days' of Britain's colonial past during his upcoming Caribbean tour, scheduled from 27 October to 4 November.
The 77-year-old monarch, who is still undergoing cancer treatment, will first visit the Bahamas and Guyana alone before travelling to Antigua and Barbuda with Queen Camilla. There, he will deliver a speech at a meeting of Commonwealth heads of government and join a parade marking 45 years of the country's independence.
Charles remains the ceremonial head of state in the Bahamas and in Antigua and Barbuda. Guyana, the only English-speaking country in South America, is a republic, and the visit will coincide with the 60th anniversary of its independence from Britain.
Charles first used the phrase 'darkest days' in 2021 during a ceremony in Barbados marking the country's transition to a republic, which removed his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, as head of state. At the time, he also described slavery as an 'appalling atrocity' that stains British history.
A palace spokesperson said Charles has worked to acknowledge past wrongs and address enduring inequalities, and will use this trip to renew that commitment. However, the palace characterised discussions on colonial legacy and the slave trade as primarily matters for governments rather than the monarchy to resolve.
Last month, the UK government again rejected calls for slavery reparations after a Jamaican delegation submitted a petition to Charles, urging him to refer questions about the legality of the transatlantic slave trade to the Caribbean's highest court of appeal, based in London.
Previous royal visits to the region have drawn tension: in 2022, Prince William and Catherine faced anti-monarchy protests during their Caribbean tour, while Prince Edward cancelled a visit to Grenada the same year following similar demonstrations. The upcoming trip will also include meetings with local residents, cricket figures in Antigua and Barbuda, and conservationists working in Guyana's rainforest.
