MPs, historians and human rights advocates have renewed calls for King Charles III to issue a formal apology for Britain’s role in the transatlantic slave trade, following new research detailing the British crown’s deep involvement in the enslavement of African people.

The demand follows the publication of The Crown’s Silence, a book that traces how British monarchs, from Queen Elizabeth I through George IV, actively benefited from and protected the trade in enslaved Africans for centuries. According to the research, the crown used slavery to boost royal revenues and expand imperial power, with historians estimating that by 1807 the British crown had become the largest buyer of enslaved people.

Although King Charles has previously expressed “personal sorrow” over the suffering caused by slavery and spoken about the need to address enduring inequalities, the monarchy has never issued a formal apology. Campaigners argue that such expressions fall short of what is required, given the scale and legacy of the crime.

Bell Ribeiro-Addy, Labour MP for Clapham and Brixton Hill and chair of the all-party parliamentary group for Afrikan reparations, said personal regret was inadequate in the face of what she described as “one of the single greatest crimes against humanity”.

“This isn’t about individuals but the monarchy as an institution,” she said. “What is needed is not simply an apology on behalf of the crown, but acknowledgment of this history and action to address its lasting legacy of global racism and inequality. An apology could be a basis for the honest conversation and transformation we need to have as a country around this issue in a swiftly changing world.”

The Runnymede Trust echoed this view, describing a royal apology as a “welcome, symbolic first step”, but warning that symbolism must be matched with concrete action. The group stressed that reparations were not about assigning collective guilt, but about addressing how the legacies of slavery remain embedded in modern economic and financial systems.

They said, “Reparations is not about exacting collective punishment or confessions of guilt – a Crown apology should only be offered if there is an accompanying governmental promise to engage with the systemic work that needs to be done to see how the legacies of slavery have coded our economic and financial infrastructures, and to genuinely commit to their reform and transformation.”

Similarly, Liliane Umubyeyi, director of African Futures Lab, said recognition alone was insufficient, arguing that there was both a moral and legal obligation to pursue reparations, as slavery is recognised under international law as a crime against humanity.

Political pressure has also come from across party lines. Green Party MP for Bristol Central, Carla Denyer, said a formal apology was “long overdue”, adding that the descendants of enslaved people “deserve nothing less”.

Independent experts working with the United Nations have added their voices to the call. Michael McEachrane, a member of the UN permanent forum on people of African descent, said the global push for reparatory justice was not about dwelling on the past, but about building a sustainable and equitable future.

McEachrane said, “[It] is critical for a sustainable future as there is no force in human history that has contributed more to social, economic and ecological disparities than colonialism. This isn’t charity or ‘handout’ – it’s about partnership: Commonwealth nations and the UK building equitable futures together, acknowledging rather than erasing their shared history.”

UN human rights lawyer Dominique Day also highlighted how the legacy of slavery and colonialism continues to shape contemporary injustices, from policing and criminal justice to major social scandals. She said acknowledgment by the crown could create space for repair and a move toward a future based on respect and equity.

Later this year, King Charles is expected to face renewed pressure from Caribbean and African nations during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Antigua and Barbuda. Historian Brooke Newman, author of The Crown’s Silence, said the meeting could be a pivotal moment. “2026 could be a key time for Charles to take action,” she said, adding that the issue had too often been sidelined by culture wars despite clear historical evidence. (Arise News)

Update news