NASSAU, The Bahamas — King Charles III has acknowledged the “great suffering and injustices” endured by previous generations of Bahamians and people in other former colonies.

Speaking at a youth rally at Clifford Park in Nassau at the start of his nine-day Caribbean tour, Charles acknowledged that some of the country’s brightest cultural traditions were born out of painful periods in its history.

“Some of what is best in Bahamian culture today, the most joyful, the most hopeful, the most bright, was born out of darkness,” he said.

“It is only right that we should acknowledge the great suffering and injustices of the past in these islands and beyond, even as we rejoice in the successes of the present and build new opportunities for the future.”

The King, who is due to attend the 28th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Antigua and Barbuda from November 1 to 4, said he knew that leaders of governments across affected Commonwealth countries would be discussing these historical issues.

“I know that leaders of the governments that affected Commonwealth countries will be discussing these matters,” he said.

Charles was met by protesters outside the airport who demanded that he apologise for the UK’s colonial past and pay reparations.

The British royal family has previously shied away from apologising or making statements about slavery, reparations and injustices committed in its name, despite calls for such measures from people in many of its former colonies.

Charles has previously described slavery as one of the “darkest days” in British history.

Before issuing an apology for Britain’s role in the transatlantic slave trade, Charles would need the UK government’s approval.

In 2024, ahead of the Commonwealth summit in Samoa, a UK government spokesperson told the BBC that the country had no intention of issuing an apology as then-Prime Minister Keir Starmer and the King prepared to attend the event.