King Charles Refuses Slavery Apology as Royal Expert Calls Him “Weak”

0:01 Hello and welcome to Palace Intrigue. I am your host, Mark Francis. King Charles has spoken of his profound sorrow over the transatlantic slave trade while highlighting the Royal Navy's role in helping to bring it to an end. Addressing Commonwealth leaders in Antigua, the King described slavery as a shameful chapter of history that His remarks came amid growing pressure for Britain to acknowledge its historical role in the trade. Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said he is open to considering a formal apology while ruling out financial reparations as the right response. The King offered no apology on behalf of Britain. He instead urged Commonwealth members to draw lessons from their shared history and work together to address its consequences.

0:57 He said the past encompassed both the achievements and failings of earlier generations, while the suffering caused by slavery continued to resonate. He pointed to efforts to suppress the trade as evidence that determined action could overcome injustice. The King also said that listening and learning had strengthened his commitment to finding practical ways to address historical wrongs through modern partnerships. Buckingham Palace has described his Commonwealth role as bringing people together and offering inspiration with policy decisions resting with the government. The king's wider address focused on climate change, trade and opportunities for young people, alongside concerns about conflict and declining trust between nations. Charles made light of his rain-soaked appearance in Antigua as he and Queen Camilla hosted a Commonwealth dinner to conclude their Caribbean tour. Addressing 84 guests at the Blue Waters Hotel on Tuesday evening, the king joked that his role as head of Commonwealth might include providing an umbrella for its members. The remark drew laughter and applause.

1:56 Charles also joked about the succession of British Prime Ministers during his reign, saying he had enjoyed meeting Commonwealth leaders, almost as many as he had encountered at home. The dinner showcased local produce, including mahi-mahi, Antiguan avocados and black pineapple, with wines from Commonwealth countries and a specially created cocktail. Camilla removed her shoes to join Charles for a beach clean-up in Antigua as their Caribbean tour drew to a close. The couple collected rubbish at Fort James Beach, where they met conservation campaigners and heard about efforts to protect the island's coastline. Lip reader Nicola Hickling told the Daily Express that Camilla appeared to say, I must go easy while stepping away from the king. Hickling suggested she may have been trying to avoid having her bare toes trodden on, although neither the words nor that explanation was confirmed. The couple appeared in good spirits during the activity, briefly crossing their litter pickers like swords. before continuing to collect waste.

2:58 Charles was surprised to learn that volunteers had gathered 71 bags of rubbish in just two hours that morning, according to Chantal Miller, founder of Island Girls Rock, which helped organise the event with Adopt-A-Coastline. Miller also told the King she was a close friend of his goddaughter, the artist Fiona Compton, prompting him to remark, small world. A property prepared for King Charles and Queen Camilla's stay in Antigua reportedly required a last-minute toilet replacement after the wrong fitting arrived from Italy. Unnamed sources told Radar Online that the bathroom had been refurbished ahead of the royal visit to Hodges Bay. According to the outlet, a replacement arrived in time, avoiding the need to move the couple to alternative accommodation.

3:42 The story recalls long-standing claims about Charles' travel requirements, including suggestions that he takes his own toilet seat abroad. When an Australian radio presenter questioned him about that claim in Brisbane in 2018, he replied, My own what? Before adding, Oh, don't believe all that crap. More balance in just a moment. Royal biographer Tom Bauer has urged King Charles to take a firmer position on Prince Harry and Meghan's reported return to Britain, arguing that the situation could damage his legacy. Speaking on the Royalist podcast, Bauer agreed with host Tom Sykes' criticism of the King's approach. Sykes said, People are not happy seeing their monarch being humiliated by Harry and Meghan.

4:26 He accused Charles of rolling out the red carpet, providing him with protection vehicles, giving him every courtesy of being a royal while saying he's not, appearing to be trying to have his cake and eat it, referring to Harry. I mean that, fundamentally, this is turning into a really bad, legacy-defining decision of his reign, isn't it? allowing these two back, not doing anything to stop it, and not even expressing any dissatisfaction with the situation. Bauer responded, I think absolutely, because that's the problem. He is weak. He hates confrontation. He feels undoubtedly guilty about the way that Harry was neglected during his childhood, especially after Diana's death. It's all together. It's a very, very great mess. The author suggested that royal disagreements were harder to keep private than in previous generations.

5:11 He said, in the past, these things would all be concealed, but with 24-hour media and all the rest of it, it's impossible to hide it. He's just got to make a decision. He's got to decide to get rid of them. Tell them to leave, make sure that they don't believe that they can ever become royals here again. That is the agenda that the palace has got to adopt, and the sooner the better. Remembrance Weekend commemorations begin today when the Duchess of Gloucester will represent the Queen at the Field of Remembrance at Westminster Abbey. She will plant a cross and meet service personnel and their families. On Saturday, the King, Queen and other family members will attend the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall.

5:54 This year's festival, themed Places of Remembrance, will explore the personal significance of locations associated with those who have died. It will also share accounts from people who served in Bosnia, the Gulf War and the Iraq War, drawing on letters sent home to loved ones. Then on Sunday, Charles will lead the nation in a two-minute silence at the Cenotaph in London. The King, Prince William, Princess Anne and Prince Edward will lay wreaths in tribute to those who died in military service. A wreath will also be laid on Camilla's behalf by her equerry. The Queen and the Princess of Wales will watch from the Foreign Office balcony alongside the Duchess of Edinburgh. the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester and the Duke of Kent. Prince William and Prince Harry have congratulated this year's Diana Award recipients in separate letters, continuing their support for the charity established in their mother's memory.

6:43 The messages were emailed to 198 young people from 44 countries, recognised for their commitment to creating positive change in their communities and beyond, the charity said. The recipients include 23 young people from the United States, 49 from India, 25 from Nigeria. Nine countries, including Ukraine and Mongolia, are represented for the first time. The Diana Award remains a shared cause for the estranged brothers, although their letters were sent separately and there was no joint appearance. The recognition comes ahead of the 30th anniversary of Diana's death in 2027. She died following the car crash in Paris in August of 1997. William and Harry jointly unveiled a statue of their mother at Kensington Palace in July of 2021, marking what would have been her 60th birthday. Both brothers continue to support causes associated with Diana. William has developed his work tackling homelessness, while Harry has supported young people affected by HIV and AIDS in Southern Africa and championed the landmine clearance charity, the Halo Trust. And there you have it.

7:46 If you'd like to email us our address is thepalaceintrigue at gmail.com. If you're on Spotify, leave us a comment. If you're on Apple, hit that button up there that says listen uninterrupted. Get the show for five bucks a month, commercial free. I'm Mark Francis. My thanks to John McDermott. This is Palace Intrigue. Good times.