Buckingham Palace has released a statement signalling King Charles's support for research into the British monarchy's historical links to transatlantic slavery. The statement was made after the Guardian contacted the palace about the history of successive British monarchs' involvement and investment in the enslavement of African people.
This followed the publication by the Guardian of a previously unseen document showing the transfer of £1,000 of shares in the slave-trading Royal African Company to King William III in 1689, from the company's deputy governor, Edward Colston. Buckingham Palace did not comment on the document, but said it supported a research project, co-sponsored by Historic Royal Palaces, which is exploring the monarchy's involvement in the slave trade.
The controversy over Edward Colston has continued after Buckingham Palace issued its first statement supporting research into the British monarchy's involvement in the slave trade. The statement was issued after the Guardian newspaper published a document from 1689 showing that King William III received a £1,000 transfer of shares in the Royal African Company from Colston, the company's deputy governor. The palace's statement expressed support for a research project exploring the monarchy's involvement in slavery, which it is co-sponsoring with Historic Royal Palaces. However, critics argue that much more needs to be done.
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