King Charles ‘makes terrible mistake’ as monarch ‘opens door’ for slave trade reparations (msn.com)
King Charles is facing criticism from a royal expert who believes he has made a “terrible mistake” by acknowledging the “personal sorrow” suffered by slaves at the hands of the Royal Family. This criticism comes as Caribbean nations reportedly plan to make formal demands for slavery reparations from the Royal Family by the end of the year.
Royal expert Petronella Wyatt accuses King Charles of “setting a precedent” by acknowledging past crimes committed by the Royal Family. She deems the idea of the Royal Family paying reparations for the actions of their ancestors as “ridiculous,” especially when institutions like The Church of England, Lloyd’s of London, and wealthy universities may face similar challenges regarding their historical slavery involvements.
King Charles Under Fire for Acknowledging Slavery’s Impact
Asked whether King Charles has “opened the door” to this issue, Wyatt admitted that he had made a “terrible mistake.”
Arley Gill, Chairman of the Grenada National Reparations Committee, expressed hope that King Charles would revisit the issue and make a more profound statement, including an apology and allocating resources for reparative justice. However, Wyatt maintains that there is no link between the wealth of the Royal Family and slavery, emphasizing that the idea of paying reparations for the sins of distant ancestors is absurd.
King Charles Under Fire for Acknowledging Slavery’s Impact
The Reparations Commission for St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) is reportedly planning to issue formal demands for reparations by the end of the year, asserting that every property owned by the Royal Family carries the scent of slavery. This campaign gained further legitimacy when former BBC correspondent Laura Trevelyan donated money and apologized for her family’s involvement in the historic slave trade, revealing that her family had owned about 1,000 slaves in Grenada in the 17th and 18th centuries and received compensation for their loss when slavery was abolished.
The debate over slavery reparations continues to stir controversy and discussion, as various parties weigh in on its implications and feasibility.