King’s veiled reference: ‘None of us can change past’

The monarch has made a veiled reference to a very “painful” topic during his high-profile speech in Samoa.

King Charles has made a veiled reference to colonialism during a high profile speech, pointing out that “none of us can change the past”.

During his first speech as monarch at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Samoa, the monarch, 75, spoke about the “painful aspects” of the past.

“I understand from listening to people across the Commonwealth how the most painful aspects of our past continue to resonate,” the King said.

“It is vital, therefore, that we understand our history, to guide us towards making the right choices in future where inequality exists.”

King Charles III delivers a speech during the opening ceremony for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Apia, Samoa. Picture: Fiona Goodall/Pool/AFP

It comes as some African and Caribbean nations continue calls for the UK to open discussions on reparations for its role in the slave trade.

Elsewhere in his 13-minute address, the King urged the 56 Commonwealth leaders gathered for the meeting to collaborate in finding solutions to the most pressing issues facing the world right now, including the “existential” threat of climate change.

The royals left Australia on Wednesday. Picture: Toby Melville-Pool/Getty Images

He explained that humanity needed to “forge a future of harmony with nature and between ourselves” and said that leaders had raised the topic with him “again and again”.

“This year alone we have seen terrifying storms in the Caribbean, devastating flooding in East Africa and catastrophic wildfires in Canada,” the King said.

“I can only offer every encouragement for action with unequivocal determination to arrest rising temperatures by cutting emissions, building resilience as far as possible to both the current and forecast impacts of climate change, and conserving and restoring nature both on land and in the sea.”

The King, along with Queen Camilla, is in the midst of a four-day state visit to Samoa, which followed a whirlwind visit to Sydney and Canberra.

It emerged prior to their departure from London that the King, who has been battling an undisclosed type of cancer for the majority of this year, was “pausing” his regular treatments in order to take the 11-day round trip.

According to the Daily Mail, the King had continued “with his ongoing cancer treatment right up until he flies” and planned to “pick up” his treatment “as soon as he returns to the UK”.