Andy Burnham's reported consideration of an apology for Britain's role in the transatlantic slave trade has left King Charles looking out of touch during his Caribbean tour, according to an opinion piece.
The King is currently visiting The Bahamas, Guyana and Antigua and Barbuda, a trip that has required careful handling amid mounting pressure over Britain's historical role in slavery. Before the tour began, it was made clear that Charles would be willing to discuss the legacy of slavery at a summit with Commonwealth leaders, but that there would be no apology. That decision was not made by Charles himself but came following Government advice.
U-turn during royal tour
When it emerged early this morning that Burnham is now considering apologising, the King must have felt he had been stitched up, the piece suggests. Burnham is new to the role of Prime Minister, but this is described as "schoolboy stuff" and not how a PM is meant to behave.
Guyana's President Irfaan Ali said recently that Charles has recognised slavery as the "darkest days" in human history, but that moving to an apology is the next step. Arriving in the country for a two-day visit while maintaining the Government's position that there would be no apology cannot have been easy.
Constitutional constraints
Burnham has dismissed the idea of paying financial reparations, saying they are "not the right answer". The piece questions whether Charles can now trust him not to change his mind on this too.
A Buckingham Palace spokesman made it clear earlier this month that the visit will "not shy away from the darkest days" of the past, and reiterated that His Majesty acts solely on Government advice. The advice needs to be clear and consistent, the piece argues, and any U-turn needs to happen well before such an important royal tour, not in the middle of it.
Impact on the monarchy
By constitutional rule, the King can only say what the government tells him to say. Burnham's backtracking, even if it is the right thing to do, has made King Charles look stupid and out of touch to those who do not understand how his role works.
At a time when the monarchy is already struggling with enough scandals, this is the last thing the King needs. It is embarrassing for the UK too to look so disorganised. Burnham was meant to be stopping the chaos of Keir Starmer's constant U-turns, but King Charles must be wondering if it is simply more of the same.
