The UK has never formally apologised for its role in slavery or offered reparations.
Burnham has previously maintained the position of his predecessors and stopped short of supporting compensation payments.
Buckingham Palace said the King would speak with “unflinching honesty” and “sincere sorrow”, although it stopped short of indicating whether he would offer an apology on behalf of the UK.
His remarks come amid a shift in the government’s position, with Prime Minister Andy Burnham saying he was “open” to the possibility of Britain formally apologising for its role in slavery. Burnham made the comments in an opinion piece for The Guardian on Friday night, describing the transatlantic slave trade as a “brutal and barbaric violation” and saying Britain “must face up to the past”. A Palace spokesperson said the King “will not shy away from confronting the most shameful aspects of the past during this visit”. Speaking to BBC Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, Badenoch said: “The transatlantic slave trade happened centuries ago. A senior royal aide said the King was accustomed to navigating difficult diplomatic issues during overseas visits. “His Majesty is well practised on the diplomatic tightrope,” the aide said.
The speech will come during the final leg of the King’s nine-day Caribbean tour, at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM). It is understood Buckingham Palace was informed of his remarks in advance. However, the King has not changed his speech in response to the prime minister’s comments. The spokesperson also made clear that the King would not comment on the government’s position on a formal apology. Royal sources stressed that any decision to apologise or consider reparations rested with the government, not the Palace. It is time for the Commonwealth to start looking forwards, not endlessly backwards. “He is up for challenging visits with complex issues and relationships in play. He sees it as his role to ‘bat for Britain’, the Realms and wider Commonwealth.”