Daily Mail·United Kingdom·Monday, November 2, 2026 at 12:46 AM UTC

Antigua's PM welcomes Charles - then says he wants to REMOVE him as head of state, blasts Kemi Badenoch and demands UK pay huge reparations over slavery 'so there isn't a repeat'

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Rebecca English

The Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda has said he personally wants to see King Charles removed as his country's monarch and insists reparations should be paid by the UK over slavery.

Gaston Browne was speaking to ITV News after he attended a Sunday morning church service alongside the sovereign and wife Queen Camilla, who has now joined her husband on his Caribbean Tour.

The politician said he had great respect for the British Monarch, but repeated his view that Antigua should replace him as head of state.

'I can say to you, I am a Republican. So if you asked me about my personal view, I would like to see Antigua and Barbuda become a republic… but I have to recognise and accept the fact that there are certain constitutional provisions to become a republic, and that, ultimately, it is the decision of the people to determine whether or not we become a republic,' he said.

The constitution requires more than two-thirds of Antiguans to vote to replace the British Monarch and change the constitution.

'So until such time as the question is put to them, I have to accept that, you know, King Charles remains. I serve the King, and he will continue to benefit from, you know, all of the courtesies and respect as our King… but again, you know, from time to time we have to test the waters.'

Mr Browne also said Kemi Badenoch did not deserve to be a prime minister after the Conservative Leader said the time for making apologies for the slave trade should stop.

Asked about Kemi Badenoch's view that Britain should stop apologising for the past and that Caribbean nations were using the Commonwealth summit to extract 'global welfare' from the UK, Mr Browne lashed out at her.

Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda Gaston Browne, left, met Charles today - then said he wants the King removed as his country's monarch

The Queen, who arrived today, was wearing a beautiful turquoise chiffon dress by Anna Valentine, with turquoise and diamond earrings from her private collection

Governor General of Antigua and Barbuda Rodney Williams and his wife Sandra Williams welcome Britain's King Charles and Queen Camilla before a church service

Members of Pathfinders group and members of The Girl Guides Association of Antigua and Barbuda hold flags on the day Britain's King Charles and Queen Camilla attend a church service

'Well, I think she's misguided. And no wonder she is the leader of the opposition and not the Prime Minister. Right?'

Asked if she should reassess her position, Gaston Browne said: 'Well, that's up to her. But we do not share her sentiments.'

It came after Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced on Friday that his government was prepared to talk about an apology – which no British prime minister has done before – but said the British public should not pay compensation for what happened in the past.

Mr Browne said: 'I understand the politics in the UK, in which it may be a difficult proposition for him to agree to any form of reparations, but that does not negate the need for reparations.'

He insisted that Caribbean nations were 'not coming to Britain and making demands that you cannot afford' but he argued the compensation money should be found in Britain's budget for overseas development.

And he warned about the consequences for the world if Britain did not pay money for its role in the transatlantic slave trade.

'If there is no compensation, there's likely to be a repeat of those atrocities sometime in the future. And you can see what is happening globally already,' he said.

Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, Gaston Browne smiles ahead of the arrival of King Charles III and Queen Camilla at the annual Independence Ceremonial Parade

King Charles and Queen Camilla, who is holding an umbrella, stand together on the day of the parade at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium

The King's Autumn Tour includes visits to The Bahamas and Guyana before continuing to Antigua and Barbuda, where he will attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting

King Charles got soaked tonight as he attended an Independence Day parade in the Caribbean

Buckingham Palace had made clear before the trip that they were approaching the tour based on existing government advice - there will be absolutely no apology and no reparations from the British government

The King is in Antigua in his role as Head of the Commonwealth for the biannual CHOGM gathering

He also said that 'if there is not some form of deterrent, there could be a repeat'.

When asked if he was referring to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, he just answered, 'you can see what is happening globally'.

The Antiguan politician told ITV News: 'I'm saying here that countries are becoming far more brutal. And if there's not some form of compensation and even liability for future generations, the present generation must understand that the actions could also affect future generations.'

Camilla, 79, who flew in from the UK on Thursday and was reunited with the King when he arrived from Guyana on Friday night, attended a church service this morning, the first time she has been seen in public this week.

The couple, who enjoyed a rare down day together at a luxury beach resort on the tropical island on Saturday, were at St John's Pentecostal House of Restoration for an Anglican church service.

They were greeted by a lively steel pan band playing a medley of well-known tunes and a line-up of the flags of the 56 Commonwealth nations.

Part of the broader Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) 2026 programme, the service centred on themes of unity and partnership.

The King and Queen were told the voices of small states must be heard for there to be 'true partnerships' in the Commonwealth while Caribbean nations welcomed the UK's offer of slavery apology talks.

Queen Camilla and the wife of Governor General of Antigua and Barbuda Rodney Williams, Sandra Williams, look on before a church service during the 45th anniversary of Antigua and Barbuda's Independence Day

King Charles and Queen Camilla with Lady Sandra Williams at an Anglican church service at St John's Pentecostal House of Restoration during their visit to Antigua and Barbuda

Anglican Bishop Ernest Flemming delivered the message and told those gathered, including cricket legend Sir Viv Richards and Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne, the 'prosperity' of the Commonwealth must be a 'shared prosperity'.

At the church Their Majesties were greeted by the Governor-General of Antigua and Barbuda, Sir Rodney Williams, and his elegant wife, Lady Sandra Williams.

The Queen was wearing a beautiful turquoise chiffon dress by Anna Valentine, with turquoise and diamond earrings from her private collection. Her Majesty is also wearing a multicoloured Antigua beaded bracelet made by a local vendor.

His Majesty's pocket square is made of the traditional Antiguan and Barbudan Independence Day madras.

His Majesty was also wearing a colourful tie given to him by Barry Humphries's widow – better known as Dame Edna Everage – from among his collection. The pair had developed a warm friendship over the years.

The King got soaked on Sunday night as he attended the Independence Day parade.

He was left gesticulating to staff to run and get him an umbrella as he waited on a red dais to inspect troops in Antigua.

But by the time he had done so his beige summer suit was soaked and he had rain running down his face.

Queen Camilla gestures about the rain as she attends the annual Independence Ceremonial Parade with King Charles

He stoically continued with the lengthy engagement in the open air, however, occasionally wiping his face with his handkerchief.

Meanwhile Queen Camilla – who was not taking part in the ceremony – made a dash for the stands under an umbrella.

She was wearing an Anna Valentine chiffon dress with gold embroidery.

The King and Queen were at Antigua and Barbuda’s annual Independence Ceremonial Parade at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, marking 45 years of the country’s independence.

The parade is the centrepiece of Antigua and Barbuda’s independence celebrations each year, and brings together the Antigua and Barbuda Defence Force, the Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda, and other uniformed contingents in a display of ceremonial drill marching and national pride.

Their Majesties were met by the Chief of Defence Staff, Brigadier General Telbert Benjamin, and the Commissioner of Police of the Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda, Everton Jeffers. The first verse of the National Anthem of Antigua and Barbuda was played, before The King, accompanied by the Chief of the Defence Staff and the Commissioner of Police, inspected the Troops and the parade.

The couple got out of their car smiling but as they took their positions on the special VIP dais the heavens opened.

The King, standing with his arms open in exasperation, had to ask his staff several times ‘where’s the umbrella’ and even mimed holding one.

He was eventually handed one by his equerry Major Ben Rigby, who ran from the stands.

The King then undertook a ten-minute inspection of the assembled troops before taking part in an hour-long parade, alternating between standing for salutes and sitting down in a leather chair that had been placed for him to rest in in.

Later the Governor-General, Sir Rodney Williams. will present to Their Majesties the National Honourees – individuals recognised for giving distinguished service to the country and its people across public life, culture, sport, education and community service.

The King and Queen will then view the parade’s closing ceremonial sequence, before greeting students and four West Indies Cricketing Knights: Sir Viv Richards; Sir Richie Richardson; Sir Andy Roberts; and Sir Curtly Ambrose.

Cricketing legend Sir Viv Richards – who on Sunday night was announced as a Sustainable Markets Initiative Ambassador, a movement founded by the King to make industry and business more environmentally friendly, said of the Commonwealth meeting and royal visit: 'It's just an exciting time for us as people.

'It couldn't be any better having the king and the queen here. It means a lot to us. It's it's a win-win situation.

'I met him [the King] before at Buckingham Palace and meeting him on my home patch, that I think evens things out.

'So it's just great to know that you are with such such folks who would have played such a huge part, a part in the world and what they stand for, and having having them on our shores. The weather's good. Couldn't be, couldn't get any better than this.'

The CHOGM, held every two years, has the theme, Accelerating Partnerships and Investment for a Prosperous Commonwealth, but talks were expected to be dominated by discussions of Andy Burnham's offer to Commonwealth nations to discuss a slavery apology from Britain.

The Prime Minister expressed 'my sorrow and regret for the pain and suffering of so many millions' but ruled out considering financial reparations. The senior cleric, Bishop of the North Eastern Caribbean and Aruba, said: '…accelerating partnerships must mean more than signing agreements or exchanging promises.

'True partnership requires mutual respect, it requires listening, it requires fairness.

'It requires that the voices of small states, young people, women, persons with disabilities, indigenous communities, and those living at the margins are not merely heard ceremonially but included meaningfully in decision-making.

'A genuine partnership does not ask what can I take; it asks what can we build together?'

The service featured hymns led by the Antigua and Barbuda Youth Orchestra, and their vocal ensemble, Inspire Youth Choir, which won the 2016 Commonwealth Choir Competition and performed at Buckingham Palace in 2018.

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