Coronation latest news: King Charles ‘must apologise for British genocide and colonisation’
The Telegraph says King Charles has been called on to apologise for British ‘genocide and colonisation’ by indigenous leaders from 12 Commonwealth countries ahead of his coronation this weekend.
A statement, signed by representatives from Australia, New Zealand and Canada, also asks the King to initiate reparations and the return of stolen artifacts.
It comes weeks after the King expressed his support for the first time for research into the historical links between the British monarchy and the transatlantic slave trade.
The statement said: “Our collective Indigenous Rights Organisations among other organisations who are working to help our communities recover from centuries of racism, oppression, colonialism and slavery, now rightly recognized by the United Nations as ‘Crimes Against Humanity,’ also call for a formal apology and for a process of reparatory justice to commence.”
It outlines five key points, which include: “Immediately start the conversation about slavery’s enduring impact”, “starting discussions about reparations”, “repatriation of all remains of our collective peoples”, “return of all of our cultural treasures and artefacts” and “acknowledge and adopt the renunciation of the ‘Doctrine of Discovery’ made by Pope Francis in April 2023”.