King acknowledges the 'great suffering' of slavery in the Bahamas but stops short of an apology as reparations demands grow
King Charles, who acknowledged "the great suffering and injustices of the past" during his Bahamas visit but stopped short of an apology, is on his first Caribbean tour as monarch.King Charles is on a nine-day Caribbean tour culminating in the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Antigua, where slavery's legacy will be formally discussed by Commonwealth leaders.King Charles (left) with Philip Davis, Prime Minister of the Bahamas, as the Bahamas National Reparations Committee said the King's remarks "fall short of what justice requires.King Charles arrives in Nassau to begin a Caribbean tour that will also be attended by Prime Minister Andy Burnham and Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.
King Charles III, 77, is on a nine-day Caribbean tour set to be dominated by reparations demands, having told a Bahamas youth rally that he acknowledged "the great suffering and injustices of the past" while stopping short of a formal apology. Palace officials confirm that Charles, in line with UK government guidance, will not apologise or offer financial compensation. He confirmed that Commonwealth leaders will take up slavery's legacy at next week's CHOGM summit in Antigua and Barbuda, which he will open.
A More in Common poll found that 60% of Britons aged 18-24 support a meeting on reparatory justice.
Commonwealth Secretary General Shirley Botchwey remarked last week that an apology from the King 'wouldn't hurt'.
As Charles spoke, a small group of protesters outside the Nassau rally chanted 'pay us what you owe us'.
