Andy Burnham shuts down claims he has made things ‘more difficult’ for King Charles

The summit is widely anticipated to be dominated by debates around a formal apology for slavery and the question of reparations.

Asked by ITV News upon his arrival whether he had “made things more difficult” for the King, Mr Burnham responded: “No. We are reaching out and listening. The whole aim here has been to come and listen and bring a new approach to the Commonwealth, and to bring people together.”

Opposition figures have accused the Prime Minister of placing the King in an awkward position by signalling his openness to hearing demands for a formal apology over Britain’s role in the slave trade.

Mr Burnham has, however, drawn a clear line by excluding reparations from any potential discussions.

Their encounter in Antigua marked the first time the two had met since the Prime Minister made his gesture towards nations that suffered under colonial-era slavery. When pressed on whether Charles ought to offer a personal apology for the actions of his royal predecessors, Mr Burnham declined to answer.

The British monarchy’s entanglement with the slave trade stretches back centuries. Elizabeth I supported the profitable ventures of John Hawkins, regarded as one of the country’s earliest slave traders.

Her successor’s namesake, Charles II, actively promoted the growth of the trade. Even as abolitionists fought to end the practice, they faced resistance from within the royal household itself; the Duke of Clarence, a son of George III who would eventually reign as William IV, openly opposed their campaign.

This deep historical connection between the Crown and the trafficking and sale of enslaved people for commercial gain forms the backdrop to the current diplomatic tensions.

The King and Prime Minister came together at a Commonwealth Business Forum staged at the Sticky Wicket, a bar and restaurant situated beside a cricket ground.

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Mr Burnham had attended a cricket function earlier in the day, while Charles and the Queen had spent time with Antiguan batting legend Sir Viv Richards during Independence Day festivities on Sunday.

Inside a pavilion at the venue, the two men shared a brief exchange comparing their respective encounters with Sir Viv.

The forum brought together Commonwealth leaders, including Antiguan Prime Minister Gaston Browne, alongside chief executives and senior business figures to explore fresh investment opportunities across Commonwealth markets.