The prince will succeed his mother as head of the organization, an association of independent nations that emerged from the ashes of the British Empire. This empire will forever be associated with slavery, and Prince Charles made it clear in his opening remarks that he wants to change the status quo and start a dialogue about it.
“As we strive together for peace, prosperity and democracy, I want to recognize that the roots of our modern unity go deep into the most painful period of our history,” he told delegates. “I cannot describe the depth of my personal sadness at the suffering of so many people as I continue to deepen my own understanding of the enduring impact of slavery.”
The delegates who left after the speech seemed excited and inspired by the words of the prince. For some, a louder “sorry” would be more appropriate, but that would open the way for claims for damages, and that’s a matter for the government, not the monarchy.
Charles said the Commonwealth needed to “find new ways to acknowledge our past. Simply put, this is a conversation whose time has come. Excellencies, conversations begin with listening.”
He told us: “Slavery was not part of the conversation, so the fact that today the prince is talking about slavery and see how we want to start this conversation… Sierra Leone is looking forward to it and we hope that when it starts, he visit Sierra Leone and visit some of the scars left in Sierra Leone.”
In 15 countries, Queen Elizabeth II is still the head of state. Barbados replaced her with a locally appointed president just last year. The Jamaican Prime Minister voiced a desire to do the same a few months ago.
In Kigali, Charles made it clear that he would not stand in the way of countries that broke off relations with the monarchy. He said: “The Commonwealth includes countries that had a constitutional relationship with my family, some of them continue to maintain them, and increasingly those that did not. the arrangement, whether it be a republic or a monarchy, is exclusively the business of each member country.”
The scars of slavery run deep across the planet. This couldn’t be a more sensitive topic. The royals may have shied away from this in the past, but now Prince Charles wants to talk about it, and he wants the Commonwealth to be the platform. He wants to be part of the solution, not a symbol of the problem.
ROYAL TEA BREAK
Charles and the British Prime Minister avoid an awkward skirmish during a trip to Rwanda.
In the past few days, there have been rumors of possible tensions between Prince Charles and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson. The Johnson government is pushing for a policy of sending some asylum seekers arriving in the UK to Rwanda for processing and possible resettlement. The British newspaper The Times reported that the royal called the plan “terrible”. With a bilateral meeting between the two on the sidelines of the Commonwealth leaders’ summit in Kigali on the cards on Friday, the British media watched to see if any of the reported tension was visible. However, hours before the event, Johnson made it clear that any conversation he might have with Charles would remain confidential. “I would not comment on anything I say to the Queen or what the Queen says to me. Nor will I say anything about what the heir to the throne might tell me or what I might say to him. Prime ministers never talk about it, and rightly so,” Johnson told reporters on Friday morning. For its part, Clarence House said it would not comment on any alleged remarks other than to say the prince is politically neutral.
JOIN THE TOUR
Emotional first day.
Prince Charles arrived in Rwanda on Tuesday evening, becoming the first member of the royal family to visit the country. While here to represent the Queen at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), he organized a series of events to celebrate the main event.
DO NOT MISS
One of Camille’s most powerful speeches.
The Duchess of Cornwall took center stage at Thursday’s Commonwealth meeting when she called on leaders to step up their efforts to prevent domestic violence. “There is strength in this union. In the strength of our unity, we, the women and men of the Commonwealth, stand by the victims and survivors who, despite the temptation to hide in silence, speak in such a way that others know they are not alone – whether in Africa, Asia, Europe, the Pacific or Caribbean and America,” the future queen said in her address. “By doing so, we have the opportunity to end gender-based violence and the laws and practices that discriminate against women. And each of us must take personal responsibility not to miss this opportunity.”
Carrie Johnson, wife of the British Prime Minister, was among the visitors to the Kigali Convention Centre. While there may be reports of tension between their husbands, they seemed to be happy to see each other. Johnson greeted the Duchess warmly as she walked over to her table during the event, and the couple looked relaxed as they chatted and laughed together.
PHOTO OF THE WEEK
Caring for the mass grave at the Kigali Genocide Memorial, where 250,000 victims of the 1994 massacre are buried.
On Wednesday, members of the royal family laid a wreath in honor of the victims, along with a note that read: “In memory of those who died during the anti-Tutsi genocide.” It was signed “Charles” and “Camilla”.
Max interviews Freddie Mutanguhi, director of the site and himself a survivor of the genocide.
At the memorial museum, the entire room is filled with family photographs of some of the victims.
Prince Charles inspects the mass graves behind Nyamata Church, one of the six national monuments of the Rwandan genocide. 45,308 victims from the surrounding area are buried here.
In the church, which today stands as a memorial to the 28-year-old violence, the pews were replaced with the clothes and personal belongings of the victims. Even now, bodies found elsewhere are brought to the church as former attackers identify other burials as part of a reconciliation process that began in 1999.
Charles speaks with students and beneficiaries of his Prince’s Trust International at the Joint Polytechnic Regional Center in Kigali on Thursday.
He later visited Umusambi village, Kigali’s first and only wildlife sanctuary, during which he learned about the conservation of restored wetlands, home to the endangered Common Crowned Cranes, and planted a tree.
DID YOU KNOW?
During the trip, Prince Charles made sure to meet students associated with his charity Prince’s Trust International (PTI). The global organization was established in 2015 and has supported more than 45,000 young people to return to education and prepare for their own careers.
Here in Rwanda, the charity has been working with local partners since 2020, and the Prince of Wales seemed delighted to speak to some of those he helps. The royal toured several stalls of local products from young entrepreneurs and chatted animatedly with the students before posing for a group photo.
Speaking ahead of the event, 24-year-old hospitality student Regis told us that welcoming Charles on Thursday “means a lot.”
“I think it’s a privilege and an honor for the prince to organize (see) those people he helps find jobs,” he said with a big smile on his face. “Many want to meet him, but are not going to. But it inspires us.”
Regis explained that he contacted PTI because she was working with the African Institute of Management here in Rwanda and helping him train and do internships at local hotels.
“Right now, from the trainings and every meal they give us, now we are starting our careers. And I think that in three to five years I will have my own business … starting with PTI, ”he added. .
WHAT ELSE IS GOING ON?
Members of the royal family praise the Windrush Generation at the memorial ceremony.
Summer image of the queen.
William and Kate are impressive in their first portrait together.
