At a dinner in Jamaica, Prince William didn’t mention anything about reparations, but he did, in a way, apologize. “I want to express my profound sorrow. Slavery was abhorrent. And it should never have happened,” William said in an emotional speech amid rising tensions (via Harper’s Bazaar). And then at an event in The Bahamas, he acknowledged the potential that other countries might be following in the footsteps of Barbados and removing Queen Elizabeth as the head of state. “We support with pride and respect your decisions about your future. Relationships evolve. Friendship endures,” he said (via BBC).
But that wasn’t the last word. In a groundbreaking statement, William said, “I know that this tour has brought into even sharper focus questions about the past and the future. In Belize, Jamaica, and The Bahamas, that future is for the people to decide upon” (via People).
He also discussed the reason for royal tours, saying it was a chance to get to know the people and try and serve them as well as possible. “Who the Commonwealth chooses to lead its family in the future isn’t what is on my mind. What matters to us is the potential the Commonwealth family has to create a better future for the people who form it, and our commitment to serve and support as best we can,” he continued (via People). There wasn’t, however, any mention of potential reparations.
