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King Charles acknowledges "great suffering" of slavery during Caribbean visit

At the start of his nine-day tour of the Bahamas, King Charles III addressed the subject of slavery and recognised the pain of the colonial era.

28 October 2026Tagblick Newsdesk

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Archive photo: King Charles acknowledges "great suffering" of slavery during Caribbean visit — Archive photoPhoto: Joachim Greiner · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0

During a nine-day visit to the Bahamas, King Charles III has engaged with the subject of slavery. Millions of Africans were once transported on English ships during the British colonial period. The monarch raised the sensitive matter at the beginning of his Caribbean tour.

At an event with young people in the capital Nassau, Charles spoke about Bahamian culture. "We know that some of what is best in Bahamian culture today – the most joyful, the most hopeful, the most radiant – has emerged from darkness," said the King according to multiple sources.

According to further reports, Charles emphasised that it was only right and proper to "acknowledge the great suffering and injustices of the past on these islands."

The Caribbean nations the King is visiting are calling for reckoning and reparations for historical injustices. Demonstrators demanded, according to one source: "Pay us what you owe us," a reference to ongoing calls for reparations.

The visit takes place against the backdrop of an intense debate surrounding the slave trade and reparations. Various media outlets note that Charles avoided offering a formal apology on this occasion.

The Bahamas is the first stop on Charles's Caribbean tour, which will also include visits to other nations in the region.

The visit underscores the continuing tension between Britain and its former colonies over how to address the legacy of colonialism and slavery.

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