King Charles addresses 'monstrous injustice' of slavery as UK PM mulls apology

The transatlantic slave trade was a monstrous injustice, Britain's King Charles said on Tuesday, in a speech to a Commonwealth summit. But he stopped short of an apology. Charles is wrapping up a nine-day Caribbean tour during which he faced calls to apologise for his country's role in slavery. We cannot change the actions of those who came before us. We can, however, learn from the past. 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. Britain's Prime Minister Andy Burnham, who was at the summit in Antigua and Barbuda, held talks with Commonwealth leaders about issuing a formal apology on behalf of the United Kingdom. Burnham has previously said he's open to apologising, but ruled out paying the financial reparations demanded by some Caribbean countries.