King Charles III recently addressed leaders from 56 Commonwealth nations during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) held in Samoa, focusing on issues stemming from the painful legacy of colonialism and slavery. While acknowledging the deep scars left by Britain's colonial history, the monarch skillfully sidestepped direct discussions about the calls for reparations from African and Caribbean nations, emphasizing instead the need to confront these historical realities and work collaboratively toward solutions.
During his first address as the Head of the Commonwealth, Charles expressed his awareness of the “most painful aspects” of history, stating, “none of us can change the past.” The King emphasized the importance of learning from historical contexts to address existing inequalities effectively. He noted, “I understand from listening to people across the Commonwealth how the most painful aspects of our past continue to resonate” and called for dialogue focusing on creating opportunities rather than dwelling solely on past injustices.
This annual summit was characterized by heightened discussions around reparatory justice—a subject increasingly championed by leaders of Caribbean nations, along with Prime Minister Philip Davis of the Bahamas, who described the legacy of slavery as leaving “a deep, generational wound.” Davis expressed the need for genuine dialogue about historical injustices to pave the way for healing.
While the King did not take up the specific topic of reparations directly, he highlighted the urgency of addressing lasting inequalities, especially as the Commonwealth faces challenges from climate change and developmental issues. His remarks came on the heels of British Prime Minister Keir Starmer's suggestion of considering non-financial reparations, highlighting various potential avenues like debt relief and financial institution reforms instead of monetary compensation.
Establishing meaningful reparations discussion has proven contentious. Some Commonwealth leaders, particularly from former British colonies, have advocated for financial compensation due to the severe impact of colonial exploitation. St. Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves noted societal consequences of slavery, emphasizing, “while enslavers received compensation at abolition, the enslaved received no land, no money, no training, no education.” Joshua Setipa, the secretary-general candidate from Lesotho, echoed such sentiments, proposing climate financing as another approach to reparative measures.
The discussions held at the summit encompassed broader themes beyond reparations, particularly the alarming effects of climate change on vulnerable nations within the Commonwealth. King Charles alerted attendees to the fact these challenges, if not adequately addressed, “will only exacerbate” existing inequalities, potentially leading to greater division and conflict among member states.
Although many leaders expressed their intentions to discuss reparations, UK officials reinforced the government’s opposition to committing to such discussions during the summit. Previous British administrations have resisted calls for financial reparations, and it appears the current government may continue with this approach. Starmer himself declared the importance of acknowledging the UK's shared history whilst simultaneously urging for direct focus on today’s challenges like climate change and trade expansion.
During his tour—which is marked by both ceremonial and diplomatic significance—the King was also conferred the title of “high chief” during traditional ceremonies, which included participating in local customs like the drinking of kava. This gesture of goodwill and respect for Samoan culture serves as part of the monarchy’s symbolic representation of unity, though it stands in stark juxtaposition to the pressing conversations about restitution for colonial histories.
Among local voices present at the CHOGM, sentiments on reparations were varied. One teacher shared views reflecting the complexity of such discussions and brought attention to how historical dialogues are perceived differently across communities. Others saw the summit as empowering, providing smaller nations within the Commonwealth to articulate their stances on climate change and advocate for their needs amid international discussions.
Concluding this significant meeting, King Charles reaffirmed the necessity for commonwealth leaders to adopt the “language of community and respect” to shape future interactions and to craft policies addressing the inequalities borne from centuries of colonial exploitation and its lasting impacts.
With the door open for continued discussions, the foundational themes of historical acknowledgment and collaborative approaches to reparative justice remain at the forefront of the Commonwealth’s agenda.
