Palace says it would accept Commonwealth realms choosing to become republics
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A senior palace aide said the royal family would step aside if any Commonwealth realm no longer wants a monarch, following King Charles' Caribbean tour that again exposed the unresolved legacy of empire and slavery.
Buckingham Palace signaled that it would accept any Commonwealth realm choosing to remove King Charles as head of state. A senior aide told The Times that the royal family is "fully open" to such a change and would have "absolutely no difficulty" with it, insisting that the family serves only while it is wanted.
The comments came after the king’s nine-day Caribbean tour, during which he addressed the legacy of the transatlantic slave trade but stopped short of issuing a formal apology. The aide pointed out that former realms, such as Barbados in 2021, have already become republics and said that each country’s decision is entirely its own to make.
The palace also rejected claims that it was caught off guard by the prime minister’s willingness to apologize for Britain’s role in the slave trade, saying it had already been briefed on the prime minister’s proposed op-ed.
Describing the tour as "complex" and "challenging," the aide said it was ultimately "very successful" and emphasized the king’s diplomatic engagements. The spokesperson added that the palace must carefully balance government policy with the monarch’s constitutional role.
Buckingham Palace was contacted for comment but did not respond.