King Charles condemns Britain’s colonial history at state banquet

• In his first speech at a royal banquet, King Charles denounced Britain’s colonial past with South Africa.
• He encouraged collaboration between the two countries despite the “wrongs which have moulded our past”.
• The 74-year-old king succeeded his mother Queen Elizabeth II to the British throne in September.

In his first speech at a royal banquet as king, King Charles outright denounced Britain’s colonial past, particularly with South Africa, whose delegation he had just welcomed to the UK.

The 74-year-old king, who succeeded his mother Queen Elizabeth II to the British throne in September of this year, received Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa for his first state supper as the King.

According to The Daily Mail, King Charles encouraged collaboration between Britain and South Africa despite the “wrongs which have moulded our past.”

“While there are elements of that history which provoke profound sorrow, it is essential that we seek to understand them,” King Charles remarked in his speech as he described how Britain’s colonial relationship with South Africa.

With SA President Ramaphosa nodding, he said, “As I remarked to Commonwealth leaders earlier this year, we must address the wrongs which have defined our history if we are to unlock the power of our joint future.”

“As I said to Commonwealth leaders earlier this year, we must acknowledge the wrongs which have shaped our past if we are to unlock the power of our common future,” he added, with SA President Ramaphosa nodding.

“The late Queen had the great pleasure of hosting Presidents Mandela, Mbeki and Zuma for State Visits to the United Kingdom, at all of which I was present. On each of those occasions, she expressed her admiration for your country and its people, its vibrancy, natural beauty and diversity,” said King Charles.

“And she always talked warmly of her return to your country in 1995, as President Mandela’s guest, after the momentous events — driven from within South Africa and supported by so many people around the world, including here in the United Kingdom — that brought democracy to your country,” the speaker continued.

With rising republican enthusiasm in many Commonwealth countries, King Charles made a bold effort in the address to keep the Commonwealth together.

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