King Charles is not expected to apologise for slavery in his Antigua speech despite Burnham being 'open' to it
Andy Burnham proposed a "structured dialogue" with affected countries on any formal apology, while firmly ruling out financial reparations ahead of the Commonwealth summit.King Charles III and Queen Camilla, whose constitutional role bars the King from referencing Andy Burnham's policy shift on a formal apology in his CHOGM address.
King Charles will speak about slavery with "unflinching honesty" and "sincere sorrow" when he opens the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Antigua on Tuesday, but Buckingham Palace has confirmed his speech has not been altered despite Prime Minister Andy Burnham's shift in government policy. Burnham wrote in the Guardian that he is "open" to calls for a formal state apology for slavery, going further than any previous prime minister, while ruling out financial reparations. Today, Charles and Camilla are attending Antigua and Barbuda's 45th independence parade at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, where the King will hold audiences with Prime Minister Gaston Browne and Governor-General Sir Rodney Williams.
Burnham wrote: 'I do not think that British people today can be held liable for historical wrongs, however heinous, that happened in a different age.'
The argument has been made that Britain has already paid reparations for slavery, as Tory leader Kemi Badenoch also rejected any financial liability for taxpayers.
