PM denies claims offer of slavery apology talks made things difficult for King

The Prime Minister has denied claims his offer of slavery apology talks has made things difficult for the King.

Andy Burnham said he was “reaching out and listening” before he met Charles for the first time since his gesture to nations that endured slavery at the hands of colonial Britain.

Mr Burnham has been criticised by opponents claiming he has put the King under pressure by stating he is open to “listening to calls for a formal apology” about slavery, but ruled out reparations.

The King and Andy Burnham met in Antigua (Chris Jackson/PA)

PA Wire

The King and the Prime Minister were reunited at a Commonwealth Business Forum held at the Sticky Wicket, a bar and restaurant alongside a cricket ground.

As he arrived, Mr Burnham was asked by ITV News whether he had “made things more difficult” for the King.

He replied: “No. We are reaching out and listening. The whole aim here has been to come and listen and bring a new approach to the Commonwealth, and to bring people together.”

Britain’s royal family has a long association with the transportation and selling of enslaved people for profit.

Elizabeth I backed the lucrative dealings of John Hawkins, one of Britain’s first slave traders, and Charles II encouraged the expansion of the enterprise.

As the slavery abolitionists campaigned against the trade they were opposed by the Duke of Clarence, George III’s son, later to become William IV.

The Prime Minister did not respond to a question on whether the King should make a personal apology on behalf of his ancestors.

Charles joined Mr Burnham and Commonwealth leaders, including Antigua and Barbuda’s prime minister Gaston Browne, after they sat down for talks with CEOs and other board-level decision makers on how to attract new investment into Commonwealth markets.

He spent a couple of minutes catching up with Mr Burnham inside a pavilion where the two swapped notes about spending time with Antiguan cricket legend Sir Viv Richards.

The Prime Minister had come from a cricket event prior to his arrival at the business forum and the King and Queen met the Sir Viv at independence day celebrations on Sunday.

Inside the pavilion, the King spoke with heads of government, Commonwealth leaders, and CEOs to hear the outcome of their summit.

The event was hosted by the Sustainable Markets Initiative in partnership with the Commonwealth Secretariat, the Government of Antigua & Barbuda and the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council.