King to address slavery with 'sincere sorrow' as Burnham says he is open to UK apology

The King gives the opening speech at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (Chogm), which gathers leaders from the organisation's 56 member states every two years in a different part of the Commonwealth. This year's official theme is Accelerating Partnerships and Investment for a Prosperous Commonwealth.

In an opinion piece for the Guardian published on Friday night, Burnham described the transatlantic slave trade as a "brutal and barbaric violation" and said Britain "must face up to the past". The BBC reports that his statement that he is "open" to the possibility of a formal apology marks a change in the government's stance. The British government has never formally apologised for slavery or offered to pay reparations, and Burnham has previously stuck with the policy of his predecessors and stopped short of offering any consideration of reparation payments.

It is understood the Palace was told in advance of the prime minister's comments, and that the King has not made any changes to his speech in light of them. A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said the King "will not shy away from confronting the most shameful aspects of the past during this visit", adding: "You may therefore expect him to address them in his speech with unflinching honesty, sincere sorrow and respect for the wider discussions that will be taking place between relevant governments on this issue at Chogm and beyond."

Asked about the King's reaction to Burnham's comments, the spokesperson said it would "not be appropriate" for the King to address matters of policy relating to the government's position. Royal sources stressed that decisions around making an apology were a matter for government, not the Palace. "His Majesty is well practised on the diplomatic tightrope," a royal aide said. "He is up for challenging visits with complex issues and relationships in play. He sees it as his role to bat for Britain, the Realms and wider Commonwealth."

In an address to the nation to mark Antigua and Barbuda's independence day, Prime Minister Gaston Browne said the history of slavery was painful and "its consequences have not disappeared with the passage of time". He said the country's pursuit of reparatory justice deserved "seriousness, sensitivity and sustained international engagement", and that his government was having these conversations in bilateral discussions with the UK and other Commonwealth countries at Chogm.

Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch described "endless talk about apologies" as a "distraction" from solving current problems. She told BBC Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg: "The transatlantic slave trade happened centuries ago. It is time for the Commonwealth to start looking forwards, not endlessly backwards."

The tour has again drawn the King into debates over the UK's colonial legacy. In the Bahamas he spoke of the “suffering of the past”, and in Guyana he visited the site of a slave rebellion, where hundreds of enslaved people were killed; Buckingham Palace said it was a moment for the King to learn more about the history of slavery and resistance. His engagements have also covered the environment, opportunities for young people and trade relationships with the UK.

At a church service on Sunday morning, before the couple joined Independence Day celebrations, the Bishop of North Eastern Caribbean and Aruba, Ernest Flemming, told the congregation that the "prosperity" of the Commonwealth must be a "shared prosperity". "True partnership requires mutual respect, it requires listening, it requires fairness," he said. A Palace spokesperson said the Commonwealth has "scale and breadth, but is also small enough for leaders to know each other and co-operate together". Burnham's separate pledge in his article to strengthen the work of the Commonwealth as an organisation will be welcomed by the King, who views the collection of 56 countries as a powerful vehicle for change.