King calls slave trade “monstrous” but stops short of apology

King Charles described the transatlantic slave trade as “monstrous” in a speech to Commonwealth leaders in Antigua and Barbuda, but stopped short of apologising, according to a BBC review of Wednesday’s newspaper front pages.

The i’s headline focused on the King’s remarks, while the Times reported that he had expressed his “most profound sorrow” and said the history filled his “heart with horror”. The Daily Mail highlighted his praise for Britain’s role in ending the trade.

The coverage comes as Prime Minister Andy Burnham is due to discuss a possible formal apology with Commonwealth leaders. He has ruled out financial reparations. The Daily Express argued that his proposed £40m aid offer could open the way to demands for payments, while quoting critics who described it as “reparations by stealth”.

The King’s remarks follow his earlier acknowledgement of suffering linked to slavery at the start of his Caribbean tour. He had stopped short of an apology or reparations then.

The BBC’s front-page roundup also reported that the High Court had rejected an injunction sought by an unnamed celebrity to prevent publication of sexual abuse allegations. The Sun said the man could still not be named because an appeal might follow. The BBC account does not identify him.