But in response to the growing campaign, a Downing Street spokesman said: “Reparations are not on the agenda for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. The government’s position on this has not changed, we do not pay reparations.”
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Asked about an apology, the spokesman added: “The position on apology remains the same, we won’t be offering an apology at CHOGM, but we will continue to engage with partners on the issues as we work with them to tackle the pressing challenges of today and indeed for the future generations.”
The King is the ceremonial head of the Commonwealth, whose members include west African and Caribbean countries affected by the slave trade. About 10 million people were enslaved by Britain and European nations between the 15th and 19th centuries and sent to work on plantations across the Atlantic in the Caribbean and the Americas.
Charles has previously signalled his support for research into the British monarchy’s historical links with transatlantic slavery, after the emergence last year of a document showing a predecessor’s stake in a slave-trading company.
As Prince of Wales at the last CHOGM in Rwanda two years ago, he addressed the issue for the first time, saying in an address to leaders: “I cannot describe the depths of my personal sorrow at the suffering of so many, as I continue to deepen my own understanding of slavery’s enduring impact.”
Last year a United Nations judge claimed the UK owes about £18 trillion ($35 trillion) in reparations for its involvement in slavery in 14 countries while Reverend Dr Michael Banner, the dean of Trinity College Cambridge, claimed earlier this year that Britain owes the Caribbean more than £200 billion in slavery reparations.
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