THE King has faced criticism after he told world leaders that the past cannot be changed but nations can “commit” to “right inequalities that endure,” as momentum grew for a debate about slavery reparations.
He used his first major speech as head of the “family of nations” to highlight how the “most painful aspects of our past continue to resonate” with the people of the Commonwealth.
It comes as Keir Starmer (below) has joined presidents and prime ministers at the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting hosted by Samoa and insisted reparations are not on the table for the summit.
Strength of feeling among some member states appears to be growing for Britain to contribute financially for its historical role in the slave trade, and the UK has conceded the issue of reparations could be included in a document due to be signed off at the meeting.
Charles opened the summit with his speech telling the global leaders: “As we look around the world and consider its many deeply concerning challenges, let us choose within our Commonwealth family the language of community and respect, and reject the language of division.
“None of us can change the past. But we can commit, with all our hearts, to learning its lessons and to finding creative ways to right inequalities that endure.”
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Reacting to the speech, anti-monarchy group Republic commented: “Caribbean reparations campaigners have already dismissed this rhetoric as empty and meaningless.
“Yet he presses on, because he is unwilling to do anything else in case he jeopardises his own wealth or status.
“Utterly pointless having a monarch as head of state.”
In a separate post, Republic’s CEO Graham Smith commented: “The same empty rhetoric. Never an apology, never an admission of the guilt of his ancestors, or the billion pound fortune he has inherited down the line from monarchs who promoted, protected and profited from slavery and empire.
“What is the point of this man?”
It comes in the same week that Charles was berated by Australian senator Lidia Thorpe during his visit to the Australian Parliament House.
The King spoke to a number of leaders via telephone before the summit began, and from the comments in his speech appears not to be taking sides on the major issues but sounding a conciliatory note, calling for the Commonwealth family to work through its problems together.
Charles highlighted how the fundamental strength of the Commonwealth is its diversity: “Together, we represent a third of humanity, with all the splendidly diverse complexity that this entails. And yet we know and understand each other, such that we can discuss the most challenging issues with openness and respect.
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“At a time of heightened global tensions, of horrifying conflict and challenges of the greatest magnitude, it seems to me that these connections between us are more precious than ever. Together we are wiser, stronger and more able to respond to the demands of our time.
“That said, our cohesion requires that we acknowledge where we have come from. I understand, from listening to people across the Commonwealth, how the most painful aspects of our past continue to resonate."
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