A photograph of King Charles posing with Caribbean officials at a London reception has triggered criticism after it showed the group standing beneath a portrait of a British monarch linked to slavery.
The image was taken during a Commonwealth Day event at St James’s Palace on March 10, where Charles hosted representatives including foreign ministers from Jamaica, St Kitts and Nevis, and Trinidad and Tobago.
The controversy centers on the large portrait of King George IV displayed above the group. Historical research shows George IV received income from enslaved labour on Crown-owned plantations in Grenada, with funds equivalent to about £103,000 today paid into his private accounts.
Reparations advocates and scholars condemned the image, arguing it was insensitive given the monarchy’s historical links to slavery. Critics described the photograph as offensive and a diplomatic misstep, saying it highlighted a failure to fully confront the legacy of slavery.
Some campaigners said the image symbolized “historical amnesia,” while others called for stronger action, including a formal apology and greater acknowledgment of the monarchy’s past involvement in slavery.
King Charles has previously expressed sorrow over slavery and supported research into the royal family’s historical ties to the practice, but critics argue that more concrete steps are needed.
Buckingham Palace has not publicly responded to the backlash.
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