In a landmark speech at the Commonwealth summit in Samoa, King Charles III addressed the enduring impact of historical injustices, stating that “the most painful aspects of our past continue to resonate.” While the King Charles III did not directly address the contentious issue of reparations for slavery, his remarks come amid growing calls from several Commonwealth leaders, particularly from Caribbean nations, for reparations related to the UK’s role in the transatlantic slave trade.
“None of us can change the past,” the King Charles III said, adding that leaders must commit to learning from history and “finding creative ways to right inequalities that endure.” He highlighted the need for the Commonwealth to confront its shared history, emphasizing that understanding the past is essential to making informed decisions for the future.
The King Charles III , attending the biennial summit for the first time as the head of the 56-member Commonwealth, remarked that the group’s cohesion depends on acknowledging its origins. “I understand from listening to people across the Commonwealth how the most painful aspects of our past continue to resonate,” he said, urging member states to engage in meaningful discussions with “openness and respect.”
Diplomatic sources suggest that several Commonwealth leaders have raised the issue of reparations, despite the UK government’s insistence that it would not be on the agenda. British officials managed to block proposals for a separate declaration on reparatory justice, but a draft communique obtained by the BBC notes that Commonwealth leaders acknowledged “calls for discussions on reparatory justice with regard to the transatlantic trade in enslaved Africans and chattel enslavement.”
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, when questioned by the BBC, condemned slavery as “abhorrent” and emphasized the importance of addressing historical injustices. However, he stressed the need to focus the summit on contemporary issues such as climate change and boosting trade. Chancellor Rachel Reeves also ruled out reparations, stating, “That’s not something that this government is doing.”
The King Charles III ’s speech also touched on the pressing issue of climate change, which disproportionately affects the small island nations that make up much of the Commonwealth. “We are well past believing it is a problem for the future,” he said, noting that the effects of climate change are already undermining progress in global development.
The summit has drawn both attention and debate, with locals in Samoa expressing a range of views on the discussions surrounding reparations and the significance of hosting the event.
