King Charles believes Britain’s role in the transatlantic slave trade should not be hidden, his goddaughter said yesterday.
Fiona Compton, 41, whose father was Sir John Compton, former Prime Minister of Saint Lucia, revealed she and the King spoke of the need for ‘openness’ when discussing Britain’s historic role Britain in horrible world trade.
She said: “He’s ready to have active conversations about Britain’s dealings with the slave trade. He agrees it’s British history and it shouldn’t be hidden.
Miss Compton showed Charles his slave-themed works in Leeds during his visit to World Reimagined, a project involving trails of large globe sculptures in towns across the UK created by artists to bring the world to life impact of the transatlantic slave trade.
King Charles believes Britain’s role in the transatlantic slave trade should not be hidden, his goddaughter said yesterday (pictured in Leeds on November 8)
Speaking afterwards, she added: “These are the early days, the positive conversations and the willingness to open up and engage.”
“The project and the conversations are about engaging British history with the slave trade and having open and meaningful conversations about it.
“These are ongoing conversations, he says he is ready to talk about it, he is ready to have conversations and see what work can be done.
‘[We’ve been] Have the conversations for a while. There is no question of reparations.
“It’s not just up to the British monarchy, it’s up to the British people to have these conversations.”
At the end of the campaign, the sculptures will be auctioned to raise funds to support projects promoting racial justice.
Miss Compton, historian, artist and official ambassador for London’s Notting Hill Carnival, was born in St Lucia, where her father became the first Prime Minister after independence from Britain in 1979. She showed the King his work of art “Palace of the Peacock”.
Charles arrived to cheers outside Leeds Central Library and Art Gallery and met 10-year-old Mason Hicks, the Children’s Mayor of Leeds, who presented the King with a birthday card ahead of his 74th birthday the week next.
Fiona Compton, 41, whose father was Sir John Compton, former Prime Minister of Saint Lucia, revealed she and the King spoke of the need for ‘openness’ when discussing Britain’s historic role Britain in horrible world trade.
The King, who is on a two-day tour of Yorkshire, enthusiastically shared his tips for the perfect Sunday roast during his visit to the Bradford headquarters of supermarket chain Morrisons.
Charles was in the company’s development kitchen, where they were working on ideas for new dishes.
The secret to the perfect roast potato, he says, was to cook them in joint grease.
And when presented with a roast rib of beef, the king replied, “That smells irresistible.”
He discussed the intricacies of cooking a joint – fast, then slow – with chef Mark Richmond and added that using the fat that comes off the meat is essential for a good roast potato.
After Mr Richmond described the other dishes the kitchen had been working on, including triple smoked salmon with herbed creme fraiche and whiskey-marinated vegetables, Charles laughed: “Have you any appetite yet? “
The King, who is on a two-day tour of Yorkshire, enthusiastically shared his tips for the perfect Sunday roast during his visit to the Bradford headquarters of supermarket chain Morrisons.
During a mock-up of the fresh produce counters in Morrisons stores, the King expressed a fondness for plated steak, a cheap cut of brisket.
Charles then visited the fishmonger, where he told Gemma Sunderland, 40, the street market manager in Huddersfield, that one of his favorites was hake.
Chippindale Foods business manager Claire Anderson, responsible for zero-carbon eggs sold to Morrisons, then showed the king the black soldier fly larvae that feed on waste from their factories.
Miss Anderson brought the larvae, which are fed to their chickens to reduce the amount of soy in their diet, in their dried form to show Charles.
During a mock-up of the fresh produce counters in Morrisons stores, the King expressed a fondness for plated steak, a cheap cut of brisket
“We didn’t think squirming around these would be appropriate for today!” said Miss Anderson.
He also wanted to know if they produced a good yellow color.
‘The color and consistency of the yolk is very important [to him],’ she says. “He also asked about bird flu – the poor chickens being locked inside. They are normally at large and have been locked indoors since yesterday to protect them from bird flu.
In an impromptu speech at the end of his visit, the King looked up at the crowd of staff on every balcony of the headquarters atrium and told them: “It has been so encouraging to see the kinds of things you do in your communities. It’s very special.
“I can only thank you for all of this and wish you every success in the future – and finally, a very Merry Christmas, I hope.”
