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King Charlesis opening the archives for an investigation into the British royal family’s ties to the transatlantic slave trade.
“This is an issue that His Majesty takes profoundly seriously. As His Majesty told the Commonwealth heads of government reception in Rwanda last year: ‘I cannot describe the depths of mypersonal sorrowat the suffering of so many, as I continue to deepen my own understanding of slavery’s enduring impact,’ " a palace spokesperson toldThe Guardian.
“That process has continued with vigour and determination since His Majesty’s accession. Historic Royal Palaces is a partner in an independent research project, which began in October last year, that is exploring, among other issues, the links between the British monarchy and the transatlantic slave trade during the late 17th and 18th centuries,” theycontinued. “As part of that drive, the royal household is supporting this research through access to the royal collection and the royal archives.”
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The illuminating statement is thought to be the first time Buckingham Palace has publicly voiced support for, and cooperation with, an investigation into the royal family’s history with colonialism.
Dr. Edmond Smith, who is supervising the project, told theBBCthat the British monarchy has “often been left out of discussions” on the transatlantic slave trade, describing the missing history as an “important hole that needed to be filled through the research.”
“How the royal household may take that research on board is something we can only hope to see develop in the coming years,” Smith said.
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King Charles, 74, andPrince Williamboth addressed the atrocities of slavery and Britain’s role in it during speeches abroad last year. The King spoke about the subject in hisopening speechat the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Rwanda (the first British royal visit) in June 2022, expressing his “personal sorrow” and urging the importance of finding “new ways to acknowledge our past.”
He also reiterated the royal family’s longstanding position that the onus is on Commonwealth countries to make the move towards becoming a republic, if they so wish, and drop the British monarch (thenQueen Elizabeth) as head of state.
Prince William, 40, denounced slavery during his tour of the Caribbean with his wife,Kate Middleton— which was met withprotests about colonialism— last year.
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In conversation withThe Guardian, the historian who discovered the King William III Royal African Company document said that while King Charles' support of the new research is promising, its scope “does not go anywhere near far enough.”
“This is an interesting development, and the expression of support may sound progressive, but a full investigation into the monarchy’s extensive, centuries-long involvement in the transatlantic slave trade and slavery, and the wealth successive monarchs accumulated from it, would need a team of researchers and forensic accountants, fully resourced,” Dr. Brooke Newman of Virginia Commonwealth University said.
source: people.com
