King Charles’s Caribbean tour has reached its most politically sensitive moment, as Commonwealth leaders gather in Antigua and Barbuda amid growing calls for Britain to apologise for its historic role in slavery.
The British government is now open to discussing a state apology, while continuing to rule out financial reparations.
But Charles cannot simply decide to say sorry. He must navigate competing expectations while acting on government advice. So what does the changing political position mean for his speech – and can royal diplomacy help move the conversation forward?
Reporting from the Caribbean, Roya Nikkhah and Kate Mansey take listeners inside the tour, from the Junkanoo parade in Nassau to the King’s visit to a site in Georgetown where enslaved people were executed. They examine how the shifting political debate has complicated the palace’s carefully planned diplomacy, what Charles can realistically achieve as Head of the Commonwealth, and whether expressions of sorrow are still enough.
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Read more: King Charles to address slavery 'with honesty and sincere sorrow'
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Producer: Robert Wallace
Video Producer: Eve Chadbourn
Executive Producer: Priyanka Deladia
Image: Getty
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