The King today acknowledged the painful legacy of the historic slave trade as he visited the site of one of the bleakest episodes in Guyanese history.
Charles, 77, paused to reflect at the spot where dozens of public executions took place during the brutal crushing of the Demerara Slave Rebellion of 1823.
While he will not be giving a speech during the latest leg of his three-country official Caribbean tour, having made public reference to the ‘great suffering and injustices of the past’ in the Bahamas earlier this week His Majesty was still keen to also acknowledge historic wrongs during his two-day State Visit to Guyana.
Buckingham Palace has made clear that he will not apologise or discuss reparations in line with government policy.
Guyanese leader, President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali, has previously been an outspoken proponent of an official apology and reparations from Britain but also enjoys a very warm relationship with the King.Â
He is said to be keen to ensure that his visit is focused ‘on the future not on the past’ not least because Guyana is Britain’s most significant trading partner in the Caribbean.
However the King felt it important, as he said at the start of his trip, to acknowledge the more ‘shameful’ aspects of British history.
King Charles stood in Independence Park, accompanied by Guyana’s Minister of Culture, Steven Jacobs, to acknowledge the country’s history of slavery and resistance.
The King today acknowledged the painful legacy of the historic slave trade as he visited the site of one of the bleakest episodes in Guyanese history
Charles, 77, paused to reflect at the spot where dozens of public executions took place during the brutal crushing of the Demerara Slave Rebellion of 1823
The King started his day at the Commonwealth War Graves to pay tribute to Commonwealth service and sacrifice
The slave uprising was one of the largest in the history of the British Empire.   Â
The modern park marks the place where executions were carried out following the Demerara Slave Rebellion of 1823, when thousands of enslaved men and women across the Demerara plantations rose up in protest.
The rebellion was put down with brutal force, with hundreds killed and the bodies of those executed put on display as a warning to others.
The King listened intently as Mr Jacobs stopped at the former Parade Ground, at the entrance to the park, and showed him a plaque commemorating those who were condemned to death and hung from gallows erected on site.Â
There were around two dozen noisy demonstrators as the King met indigenous leaders, holding placards reading: ‘The time has come, make it count’ and ‘Face the history, commit to repair’.
One told the Mail: ‘We don’t want an apology from King Charles, we want reparations. This is as much about our government as it is him. It is a joint operation and the world needs to see Guyana.
‘This is a neo-colonial operation. The sitting ministers are responsible. We don’t want an apology we want reparations.Â
‘We want the world to see that colonialisation may have left Guyana but Guyana is still under that umbrella.Â
‘This is a neo-plantation where the top one per cent are the only ones that are benefiting.Â
‘The administration, their friends and their families are the only ones that are benefiting. Colonialism and slavery may have ended but it has taken new ship and new form.’
The protestors, who shouted as the king’s car drove past, were vastly outnumbered, however, by well-wishers, some of whom shouted back: ‘Guyana is a lovely country, a beautiful country. Welcome to Guyana.’
The protestors, who shouted as the king’s car drove past, were vastly outnumbered, however, by well-wishers, some of whom shouted back: ‘Guyana is a lovely country, a beautiful country. Welcome to Guyana.’
The King then moved to speak to excited children gathered in groups in the park. Charles said ‘I hope they have given you the day off school to be here! Are they giving you a lot of homework instead?’
The King, in a pink shirt, lilac tie and pale grey suit, was welcomed by the Prime Minister, Mark Anthony Phillips, and Chief of Defence Staff of the Guyana Defence Force, Brigadier Omar Khan
Charles met veterans including Donald Grant, 99, who will celebrate his 100th birthday next week on November 3rd
At Promenade Gardens, the King spoke to excited children gathered in groups in the park. Charles said ‘I hope they have given you the day off school to be here! Are they giving you a lot of homework instead?’
Within the gardens, The King heard about several conservation projects, including an educational children’s book titled ‘Arya Takes a Swim’, which follows a green sea turtle hatchling as she journeys from Guyana’s Shell Beach into the open ocean
The King started his day at the the Commonwealth War Graves to pay tribute to Commonwealth service and sacrifice, hearing from veterans of the pre-independence British Guiana defence forces.
His Majesty then moved on to the neighbouring Promenade Gardens, one of Georgetown’s oldest public spaces, which opened in 1853. There he was greeted by the Mayor of Georgetown, Alfred Mentore, as members of Glasgow’s National Piping Centre played from the bandstand alongside Guyanese drummers.
The pipers are touring the country to learn about Guyanese music traditions and to teach local people to play the bagpipes.
The King heard about a series of conservation projects, including a children’s book, Arya Takes a Swim, which follows a green sea turtle hatchling from Guyana’s Shell Beach into the open ocean.Â
He also learned how seeds have been extracted and stored from the Victoria amazonica, the giant water lily that is Guyana’s national flower, as part of a new collaboration between Kew Gardens and Guyana.
Carlos Magdalena, science and horticultural researcher at Kew, told the King how the seeds would be transported to Britain on Monday, before being planted in the newly refurbished glasshouse. They are expected to bloom in April, with gardeners hoping the King will open the water lily glasshouse personally.
Mr Magdalena said: ‘We would be delighted if the King would do us the honour of being there for the opening. He was so interested in the project and with all of his credentials in the world of sustainability and the environment, he is a wonderful ambassador.’
Charles was then briefed on the King’s Foundation’s work with the Guyanese government on reimagining Georgetown as a ‘Garden City’, before meeting the pipers and drummers at the bandstand and departing.
Ben Bolgar, head of projects for King’s Foundation explained how the Foundation is assisting with the planning for several projects in the region as it aims to be one of the most sustainable cities in South America and the Caribbean.
Charles met with former servicemen who served in pre-independence British Guiana defence forces at the war graves site, which was established in 1824. It features the Georgetown Timehri Memorial, which pays homage to 24 British Guianese casualties of the two World Wars.
The King, in a pink shirt, lilac tie and pale grey suit, was welcomed by the Prime Minister, Mark Anthony Phillips, and Chief of Defence Staff of the Guyana Defence Force, Brigadier Omar Khan.
The Police Band played the Last Post, and Charles, putting his sunglasses on, and the Prime Minister then laid wreaths to honour the service and sacrifices of those who served.
Charles then met veterans including Donald Grant, 99, who will celebrate his 100th birthday next week on November 3rd. Grant enlisted in the British Volunteer Force in 1941 when he was deployed to Canada with the RAF, rising to the rank of Lance Corporal.
Grant’s eyes were closed in his wheelchair as the King held and shook his hand, and he asked: ‘Is this the hand of the King? Is this the hand of the King? I can’t say much, but it’s all in my heart.’Â
Assuring him he was speaking to the King, Charles said: ‘I hear you’re going to be 100 next week, a fellow Scorpio like me, many, many happy returns. And you were in the Air Force? I hope you had a decent experience of it.’
King Charles is seen speaking with Guyanese cricketer Steven Jacobs at the Parade Ground following a visit to the site in Georgetown Â
His Majesty was accompanied by Steven Jacobs, a Minister within Guyana’s Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, and met with Carlos Magdalena, a Botanical Horticulturist at the Royal Botanic Gardens
Charles was then briefed on the King’s Foundation’s work with the Guyanese government on reimagining Georgetown as a ‘Garden City’, before meeting the pipers and drummers at the bandstand and departing
After speaking to the King, Grant wiped away a tear with a pink blanket he held in his lap.
Bending down to talk to James Samuel, 100, in his wheelchair, Charles heard how aged 19 he enlisted in the British Guiana Volunteer Force in 1943.
‘What a great pleasure it is to see you on this occasion,’ Charles told him. ‘I hope it wasn’t too much trouble for you to come here today. I hear you’re 100, remarkable, and your hearing and sight and everything is ok? Very good, fantastic.’
Mr Samuel told Charles about some of his adventures in the RAF, and how after his military career, he moved to London and struggled to find work due to prejudice, eventually finding a junior role at a telephone exchange. ‘I couldn’t get a job, I was the only black person, I was told black people from the colonies couldn’t be in charge of a telephone exchange.’
Charles frowned and shook his head hearing the story.
Before leaving, the King also heard from World War II and pre-independence veterans.
He also met Dennis Stewart, 83, a former sniper instructor who trained in the UK from 1971 with the Guiana Defence Force.
Charles asked him if he was still doing his military exercises. Mr Stewart told him: ‘I am, but I’m a bit creaky.’ Laughing, Charles replied: ‘I’m beginning to discover the feeling.’Â
Last night there was a moment of fun at a reception thrown in his honour by the President of Guyana, as the King was given a bottle of specially blended ‘Royal Welcome’ rum and invited to have a tipple, he didn’t hold back.
‘Do you drink this? Endless rum punches at the end of the day?’ he asked onlookers with a knowing smile before sniffing the glass and clinking his with that of his host, President.
He took a swig, waggled his eyebrows and pulled a slightly eye-watering expression before declaring: ‘Very good!’
The president, clearly more accustomed to it, leaned over and told the monarch: ‘You’ve just got to drink it down!’
‘It won’t last long,’ grinned the King and took another big sip, before telling his hosts: ‘That’s very kind. Somebody else will have to finish it!
‘A great pick me up, as my grandmother used to say! ‘
The event took place in the garden of the State Residence, the home of the president in the capital, Georgetown.
Later today he will fly to Antigua for the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting, the last stop of on his busy autumn tour
Last night there was a moment of fun at a reception thrown in his honour by the President of Guyana, as the King was given a bottle of specially blended ‘Royal Welcome’ rum and invited to have a tipple, he didn’t hold back
King Charles took his seat for a colourful song and dance performance reflecting Guyanese culture involving dozens of performers in bright costume. He was sat between the president and Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband, who was seen at one point slapping him on the back
King Charles has been invited on a two-day state visit by President Ali to celebrate 60 years of bilateral relations between the two nations.
The two have met six times already and the warmth of relationship was clearly evident as the two men laughed and chatted all evening.
On arrival the king and his host held bilateral talks in private before standing on the balcony of the house to pose for photographs while they admired the president’s classic car collection, which had been put out on display.
They then stood for the national anthems of both countries before taking their seats for a colourful song and dance performance reflecting Guyanese culture involving dozens of performers in bright costume.
The King was sat between the president and Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband, who was seen at one point slapping him on the back.
Charles tapped his toes and smiled broadly at the performances, appearing to be thoroughly enjoying himself.
He was particularly excited at a special performance featuring a collaboration between the National Piping Centre, of which he is patron, and local Guyanese drummers, tapping his fingers on his trousers.
Both the president and vice president of Guyana have seen them previously play at Dumfries House, the king’s Scottish charity headquarters, and were so impressed that they decided to offer them the opportunity of a cultural exchange in the Caribbean.
Piper Finlay McDonald, the centre’s director who has previously played on many occasions for the King, said: ‘It’s been amazing for us as musicians. The best thing we can do is travel and learn about people’s culture and music and share that.Â
‘We have travelled to seven of the states here and it has been incredible meeting and working with the musicians and sharing our music and culture with them. It’s something we will remember forever. ‘
The King was also mobbed as he met guests including Guyanese changemakers, parliamentarians sportsmen and women and Chevening and Commonwealth scholars.
