For his first formal address as head of the Commonwealth, King Charles would probably have preferred to veer away from controversy. Unfortunately, delivering an anodyne and people pleasing speech was not on the agenda.
Ever since it was announced that Samoa would be hosting a gathering of the 56 Commonwealth countries, it was inevitable that the hot-button issues of imperialism and western complicity in the slave trade would be high on the agenda, and the vexed issue of potential reparations has, inevitably, dominated proceedings so far.
The ‘creative ways’ he suggested Britain might offer apologies for its part in the slave trade may not be enough for many
During his 12-minute speech (which he later described to Keir Starmer as ‘very long’), the King had to tread a fine line between his natural inclination to soothe and unite, and not going against his government’s policy that reparations will not be paid for Britain’s part in the slave trade.
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