By Fatma Younis
Buckingham Palace has signaled it is open to Commonwealth realms removing King Charles as their head of state, according to a senior aide quoted in The Times. The aide said the royal family is "fully open" to the idea, adding: "We have absolutely no difficulty with that."
Aide Says Royal Family 'Fully Open' to Change
The statement comes after the King completed a nine-day tour of the Caribbean dominated by calls for slavery reparations. The aide emphasized that the family serves only as long as the people of those regions wish, and if they no longer wish it, "a new arrangement can be found." The aide pointed to former realms such as Barbados, which became a republic in 2021, as precedent.
Caribbean Tour Dominated by Reparations Calls
During the tour, Charles described the transatlantic slave trade as filling his heart with horror and his soul with profound personal sorrow, but he did not offer a formal apology. The aide denied the palace was blindsided by the UK prime minister's indication he would be open to apologizing for Britain's role, saying they had discussed the op-ed in advance.
Palace Describes Tour as Successful
The aide characterized the visit as "very successful" despite being complex, challenging, and exhausting across three countries. They said the King "relishes" the tough parts of his role and lives for helping the UK renew relationships where political issues are at play, calling him a "great secret weapon." The aide also noted the need to tread a careful line between government policy and the King's role.
