King Charles faces renewed calls to formally apologize for slavery during his recent Caribbean tour. However, Express readers have largely backed the monarch’s decision not to issue an apology.
Here’s what royal fans think about King Charles not apologizing for slavery during the Caribbean tour
An Express poll asked readers whether King Charles should have apologised for slavery, with the results showing overwhelming opposition to the idea. Of the 3,482 votes cast, 3,400 respondents (98%) said no, while 69 (2%) voted in favour. Another 13 readers (less than 1%) selected “don’t know.” The poll ran from 3.40 pm on Tuesday, November 3, until 7.40 pm on Thursday, November 5.
The results emerged as Charles addressed Britain’s role in the transatlantic slave trade during a speech in Antigua. While the monarch stopped short of issuing a formal apology, he acknowledged slavery’s lasting impact on the Caribbean and other Commonwealth nations.
“History is not ours to choose or change,” the King said. He further noted that the past could inspire, appal and teach people. “We cannot change the actions of those who came before us. We can, however, learn from the past.”
Charles also acknowledged that slavery still “casts a shadow over these islands and other Members of our Commonwealth.” Describing the trade as a “shameful chapter”, he said it filled him with “horror” and “the most profound personal sorrow.”
However, the King also highlighted the Royal Navy’s role in helping bring an end to the international trade in enslaved people. He stressed that history showed that “evil need not have the last word” and reaffirmed his commitment to addressing historical wrongs through meaningful action.
Charles pointed to education, employment opportunities, Commonwealth trade and climate resilience as key areas where progress could support communities facing hardship.
Meanwhile, Commonwealth Secretary-General Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey argued that discussions about reparations had become necessary. When asked whether Charles should apologise, she told Sky News: “That’s what the countries have asked for… It wouldn’t hurt to have that. Not at all.”
The King’s Caribbean tour has consequently brought the wider debate over apologies, reparations and meaningful action back into focus. While the Express poll indicates that its readers largely support Charles’s decision not to issue a formal apology, calls for Britain to confront its historical role in the slave trade continue.
