The Papers: King calls slavery 'monstrous' and 'Celeb loses gag bid'

King Charles III expressed profound sorrow and called the transatlantic slave trade a "monstrous injustice" during his keynote speech at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Antigua and Barbuda on November 3, 2026. However, he stopped short of offering a formal apology, stating that history is "not ours to choose or to change." Caribbean leaders, represented by CARICOM (the Caribbean Community), have been pressing for reparations and an official UK apology due to the lasting economic and social impacts of slavery. The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom acknowledged the need for dialogue but did not commit to financial contributions beyond existing budgets, allocating £40 million over three years for critical infrastructure investments in member states.