King Charles is scheduled to visit the Bahamas, Guyana and Antigua and Barbuda this week. Photo: Express

The Commonwealth's secretary-general, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, has suggested that King Charles should apologise for slavery. Photo: eastleighvoice.co.ke

King Charles is scheduled to visit the Bahamas, Guyana and Antigua and Barbuda.

According to the Express, a United Kingdom (UK) publication, Botchwey said that an apology for slavery "wouldn’t hurt". She added that it is time for a discussion about reparations.

Asked whether the royal should apologise, the Commonwealth chief told Sky News: "That's what the countries have asked for... It wouldn't hurt to have that. Not at all."

No apology expected

It is reported that King Charles will "not shy away" from discussing the historical slave trade on the trip, but will stop short of apologising for Britain's role in it.

He will make speeches in all three countries, given he is head of the Commonwealth. Finally, he will have a Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting where the issue of reparations is expected to be debated.

Caribbean campaigners have called for slavery reparations to be on the upcoming trip's agenda, and envoys from Jamaica and other former British colonies have already petitioned the monarch to help their campaign to be compensated for the slave trade.

The monarch, according to the Express, will follow government advice not to issue an official apology.