UK's King Charles III decries 'monstrous injustice' of slave trade

The United Kingdom's King Charles III on Tuesday opened this week's Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Antigua and Barbuda, a summit of 56 Commonwealth member-state leaders, by speaking of the tragic legacy of the transatlantic slave trade.

Charles told those gathered that he had furthered his "own understanding of the issues through listening, learning and looking."

"The ​transatlantic trade in enslaved persons still casts a shadow over these islands and other members of our Commonwealth. As I have said before, that shameful chapter of history is one that fills my heart with ⁠horror ​and my soul with the most profound personal sorrow."

The monarch stopped short of apologizing for Britain's role in the dark trade, as well as refraining from any talk of reparations. Instead, he spoke of the need to look forward when addressing the "monstrous injustice" of the past to insure that "evil need not have the last word."

Will the UK apologize for slavery, offer reparations?

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham, who is also in attendance, has previously said that he could be open to an apology, and the run up to the summit has been dominated by talk of apologies and potential financial reparations.

Both the king and the prime minister have spoken of using the summit as an opportunity to address future partnerships by devising approaches to tackle healthcare, education and climate protection needs among those "who struggle against ⁠hardship and disadvantage" rather than dwelling on the past.

"We cannot change the actions of those who came before us," said the monarch as he opened Tuesday's session, "We can, however, learn from the past."

Burnham has said he would like to discuss debt resets for smaller Commonwealth nations as well as announcing ⁠a €48.2 million ($54 million) investment into ​critical infrastructure in the Caribbean over the next three years.

What was the British Empire's role in the transatlantic slave trade?

The British joined the institutionalized slave trade in the seventeenth century, and quickly eclipsed other European powers before involvement in the trade was outlawed for British subjects in the Slave Trade Act of 1807 and then done away with in the wider British Empire in the Slavery Abolition Act of 1833.

During that time, Britain outfitted almost one-third of all transatlantic slave voyages, facilitating the forced transport of over 3.2 million Africans, mainly to British colonies in the Caribbean and North America.

The Commonwealth of Nations consists largely of former British colonies whose combined GDP of roughly $14.5 trillion accounts for about 15% of the global economy.