UK's King Charles III decries 'monstrous injustice' of slave trade

King Charles has told leaders at a Commonwealth summit that the legacy of the transatlantic slave trade "fills my heart with horror." He did not address calls for apologies and reparations. Charles told those gathered that he had furthered his "own understanding of the issues through listening, learning and looking." "The ​transatlantic trade in enslaved persons still casts a shadow over these islands and other members of our Commonwealth.

As I have said before, that shameful chapter of history is one that fills my heart with ⁠horror ​and my soul with the most profound personal sorrow." The monarch stopped short of apologizing for Britain's role in the dark trade, as well as refraining from any talk of reparations . Instead, he spoke of the need to look forward when addressing the "monstrous injustice" of the past to insure that "evil need not have the last word." UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham , who is also in attendance, has previously said that he could be open to an apology, and the run up to the summit has been dominated by talk of apologies and potential financial reparations.