King Charles will embark on his first state visit to a Commonwealth country next week, with a trip to Kenya. While the visit is aimed at reinforcing ties between the UK and Kenya, the legacy of colonialism is expected to be a key topic of discussion. Palace officials will be hoping to avoid a repeat of Prince William and Catherine’s Caribbean tour last year, which was overshadowed by demands for recognition of historic wrongs associated with slavery. However, Royal historian Prof Heather Jones believes that any attempt by the King to offer his own symbolic apology would require government approval, as a constitutional monarch is constrained in what they can say publicly.
A recent study by University of Worcester’s Prof Suzanne Schwarz explored the attitude of the British Royal Family towards slavery in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. She found a complex picture, with King George III and his sons deeply divided over the issue. Two close relatives of George III, his son the Duke of Clarence and his nephew, the Duke of Gloucester, were important figures on opposite sides of the campaigns for and against the abolition of the slave trade. The young Duke of Gloucester was a pivotal figure in the campaign against slavery, working with leading abolitionists to co-ordinate efforts to stop the trade. However, his cousin, the Duke of Clarence and future King William IV, was a noted defender of the use of slave labour in the colonies, arguing in favour of the value of the trade on commercial grounds.
There has been increasing discussion in recent years about the relationship of the British monarchy with the issue of slavery. While many have demanded apologies from the institution, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has rejected these calls, arguing that attempting to unpick the country’s history in this way is not helpful. Despite the difficulties of navigating a complex and often painful history, many believe that there is an important role for the monarchy in acknowledging the past and working towards a better future.
Prof Jones believes that the way forward is to allow academic researchers to fully investigate the history of the royal involvement in slavery using the royal archives and to publish what they find. By doing so, the monarchy can acknowledge their complex history, while also signaling a commitment to continuing to address and learn from this difficult period of history
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