King to address slavery’s legacy in Antigua speech

King Charles III is expected to address the legacy of the transatlantic slave trade in a speech to Commonwealth leaders in Antigua, with Buckingham Palace saying he will speak with “unflinching honesty” and “sincere sorrow” but will not set out UK government policy or issue a formal apology in the address. The speech is scheduled for Tuesday at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, which brings together leaders from 56 member states. Palace officials said the King’s remarks would respect discussions among governments on slavery and focus primarily on practical cooperation and shared challenges. They said his speech and programme were not changed after Prime Minister Andy Burnham expressed openness to a formal state apology. In an opinion piece published Friday, Burnham said structured dialogue with countries and campaign groups affected by the transatlantic slave trade would include listening to calls for an apology on behalf of the British state. He said he was open to those calls, while ruling out financial reparations. His comments marked a shift from the government’s established position, according to the reports, but did not amount to a decision to issue an...