King Charles arrives in Bahamas for Caribbean trip amid calls to apologise for slavery

The King has landed in the Bahamas to receive a ceremonial welcome at the start of a nine-day Caribbean tour that will conclude with him presiding over a summit of Commonwealth leaders.

Stepping down from Voyager, the official ministerial jet, the visiting head of state was met by his representative in the Bahamas, governor-general Dame Cynthia Pratt, Prime Minister, Philip E Davis and an assembled party of dignitaries.

A guard of honour comprising 96 members of the Royal Bahamas Police Force and the Royal Bahamas Defence Force presented a royal salute as Charles stepped onto a raised dais.

Musical ensembles from both units on parade performed the Bahamian national anthem, after which the King inspected the police officers and military personnel.

The tour takes place amid growing calls from Caribbean nations for Britain to apologise for its role in the transatlantic slave trade and to pay reparations.

At the start of the trip, the King will acknowledge the "great suffering of the past" and confirm that Commonwealth leaders are set to discuss the legacy of slavery at a summit he will open.

The visit to the Bahamas is a solo one for Charles, who is scheduled to speak at the Future Bahamas Youth Rally and Exhibition at Clifford Park, the historic site where the Bahamas officially gained its independence in 1973.

The King will acknowledge the 'great suffering of the past' and confirm that Commonwealth leaders are set to discuss the legacy of slavery at a summit he will open (Getty)

The King, then Prince of Wales, attended those independence celebrations, delivering a formal message from Queen Elizabeth II to Bahamians.

At the youth parade, Charles is expected to tell young people and guests: "Some of what is best in Bahamian culture today, the most joyful, the most hopeful, the most bright, was born out of darkness.

"It is only right that we should acknowledge the great suffering 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."

He will add: "Tonight it gives me enormous hope to see the way generations of Bahamians have carried the history, the legacy and the promise bequeathed to you by your ancestors, with pride in your hearts and purpose in your steps.

"You have not only carried their legacy; you have nurtured and enhanced it, creatively and courageously, and we have seen tonight what a wonderful gift it is to the Bahamas and to the world."

In the speech, the King is due to say some of the nation's culture was "born out of darkness".

He will also make clear that CHOGM leaders will discuss matters around the legacy of slavery next week in Antigua.

The nine-day regional tour includes a solo state visit to Guyana, culminating in the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) hosted by Antigua and Barbuda.

In the speech, the King is due to say some of the nation's culture was 'born out of darkness' (Getty)

The King, joined by the Queen, will preside over the gathering in his role as head of the "family of Nations".

A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said: "At the request of host governments, the King's programme will primarily focus on shining a light on the many modern partnerships and opportunities for the future that are having a transformative effect on the region, as it confronts the challenges of today.

"For His Majesty, this tour is both a new journey but also the continuance of a lifelong one, in which he has sought to engage, understand and educate about the most shameful aspects of our past. This will therefore also be reflected in differing ways and words during the tour, as you would expect."

In the run-up to the summit, Commonwealth secretary general Shirley Botchwey said last week it "wouldn't hurt", when asked during an interview if the King should apologise.

Guyana's President Mohamed Irfaan Ali said recently Charles has recognised slavery as the darkest days in human history – but moving to the apology is "the next step".

The King acts on the guidance of his ministers, and it is understood the Government has not advised him to offer an apology or reparations, in keeping with established policy.

The UK Government's position on reparations is well established: it acknowledges the trade in enslaved people was abhorrent and its impact is still felt today, but it will not pay financial reparations for historical acts that did not break international laws at the time, and is committed to continued dialogue with Commonwealth nations.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham and Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband will join Charles in Antigua for the gathering of Commonwealth leaders.

Charles has previously acknowledged the "appalling atrocity of slavery", describing it as something "which forever stains our history, when he attended the ceremony marking Barbados's historic transition to a republic in 2021.

A year later, in a speech at the opening of a Commonwealth summit hosted by Rwanda, he described how he was on a personal journey of discovery and was continuing to "deepen my own understanding of slavery's enduring impact".