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Free Malaysia Today
5 days ago
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
New research adds pressure on UK royals over slavery ties
King Charles expressed sorrow over slavery in a speech to Commonwealth leaders in 2022. (AFP pic) LONDON : New research shows that Britain's King George IV, who ruled for a decade until 1830, personally profited from enslaved labour on Grenadian plantations, a finding that experts say heightens pressure on the monarchy to confront its historical links to slavery. Independent scholar Desiree Baptiste uncovered a 1823-24 document at the National Archives in London revealing a £1,000 payment – equivalent to around £103,132 today – from two Crown-owned estates in Grenada where hundreds of enslaved people laboured in the 18th and 19th centuries. The funds were paid into King George IV's private coffers, and contributed to his 'lavish lifestyle', said Baptiste, a researcher on colonialism and transatlantic slavery who has roots in Grenada and shared her findings with Reuters. Baptiste's research was verified by University of Manchester professor Edmond Smith and Dr Nick Draper, founder of University College London's Legacies of British Slave-ownership project. Smith, who is supervising a PhD study on the royal family's role in slavery, said as more evidence is uncovered the monarchy's profits from slavery will become clearer. He said this payment 'might well just be the tip of the iceberg'. Buckingham Palace did not immediately respond to a request for comment. King Charles has backed the study led by Smith, following a 2023 Guardian report revealing that in 1689 King William III received £1,000 in shares in the Royal African Company, which trafficked thousands of enslaved Africans to the Americas. 'This evidence fits with long-term patterns of colonial exploitation by the British royal family, including repeated efforts to find novel income streams from colonies in the Caribbean,' Smith said. King Charles expressed sorrow over slavery in a speech to Commonwealth leaders in 2022. But Baptiste said no UK monarch has publicly acknowledged the Crown once owned and profited from enslaved people in the Caribbean. Baptiste's research, from her independent study 'Slaves the Property of His Majesty: George IV and Grenada', comes amid growing global momentum for reparations for slavery, especially across the Caribbean and Africa. However, some European leaders have been accused of being opposed to even opening the conversation.
CTV News
5 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
New research adds to pressure on monarchy over historical ties to slavery
LONDON - New research shows that King George IV, who ruled for a decade until 1830, personally profited from enslaved labour on Grenadian plantations, a finding that experts say heightens pressure on the monarchy to confront its historical links to slavery. Independent scholar Desirée Baptiste uncovered a 1823-24 document at the National Archives in London revealing a 1,000-pound (US$1,330.60) payment - equivalent to around 103,132 pounds today - from two Crown-owned estates in Grenada where hundreds of enslaved people laboured in the 18th and 19th centuries. The funds were paid into King George IV's private coffers, and contributed to his 'lavish lifestyle,' said Baptiste, a researcher on colonialism and transatlantic slavery who has roots in Grenada and shared her findings with Reuters. Baptiste's research was verified by University of Manchester professor Edmond Smith and Dr. Nick Draper, founder of University College London's Legacies of British Slave-ownership project. Smith, who is supervising a PhD study on the royal family's role in slavery, said as more evidence is uncovered the monarchy's profits from slavery will become clearer. He said this payment 'might well just be the tip of the iceberg.' Buckingham Palace did not immediately respond to a request for comment. King Charles has backed the study led by Smith, following a 2023 Guardian report revealing that in 1689 King William III received 1,000 pounds in shares in the Royal African Company, which trafficked thousands of enslaved Africans to the Americas. 'This evidence fits with long-term patterns of colonial exploitation by the British royal family, including repeated efforts to find novel income streams from colonies in the Caribbean,' Smith said. King Charles expressed sorrow over slavery in a speech to Commonwealth leaders in 2022. But Baptiste said no British monarch has publicly acknowledged the Crown once owned and profited from enslaved people in the Caribbean. Baptiste's research, from her independent study 'Slaves the Property of His Majesty: George IV and Grenada', comes amid growing global momentum for reparations for slavery, especially across the Caribbean and Africa. However, some European leaders have been accused of being opposed to even opening the conversation. Reporting by Catarina Demony; Editing by Nia Williams, Reuters
Reuters
5 days ago
- Business
- Reuters
New research adds to pressure on British monarchy over historical ties to slavery
LONDON, Aug 7 (Reuters) - New research shows that Britain's King George IV, who ruled for a decade until 1830, personally profited from enslaved labour on Grenadian plantations, a finding that experts say heightens pressure on the monarchy to confront its historical links to slavery. Independent scholar Desirée Baptiste uncovered a 1823-24 document at the National Archives in London revealing a 1,000-pound ($1,330.60) payment - equivalent to around 103,132 pounds today - from two Crown-owned estates in Grenada where hundreds of enslaved people laboured in the 18th and 19th centuries. The funds were paid into King George IV's private coffers, and contributed to his "lavish lifestyle", said Baptiste, a researcher on colonialism and transatlantic slavery who has roots in Grenada and shared her findings with Reuters. Baptiste's research was verified by University of Manchester professor Edmond Smith and Dr. Nick Draper, founder of University College London's Legacies of British Slave-ownership project. Smith, who is supervising a PhD study on the royal family's role in slavery, said as more evidence is uncovered the monarchy's profits from slavery will become clearer. He said this payment "might well just be the tip of the iceberg". Buckingham Palace did not immediately respond to a request for comment. King Charles has backed the study led by Smith, following a 2023 Guardian report revealing that in 1689 King William III received 1,000 pounds in shares in the Royal African Company, which trafficked thousands of enslaved Africans to the Americas. "This evidence fits with long-term patterns of colonial exploitation by the British royal family, including repeated efforts to find novel income streams from colonies in the Caribbean," Smith said. King Charles expressed sorrow over slavery in a speech to Commonwealth leaders in 2022. But Baptiste said no British monarch has publicly acknowledged the Crown once owned and profited from enslaved people in the Caribbean. Baptiste's research, from her independent study 'Slaves the Property of His Majesty: George IV and Grenada', comes amid growing global momentum for reparations for slavery, especially across the Caribbean and Africa. However, some European leaders have been accused of being opposed to even opening the conversation. ($1 = 0.7515 pounds)
The Sun
29-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Rare royal mourning ring commissioned by King George IV bought in charity shop for just £15 – here's what it's worth
A RARE mourning ring commissioned by King George IV has been found in a charity shop – and snapped up for just £15. The gold band, engraved with the touching words 'Remember me', was created to honour the death of Princess Amelia, youngest daughter of King George III. 5 5 The historic piece was discovered in a charity shop in Leicester and is now set to go under the hammer at Hansons Auctioneers, where it could fetch between £3,000 and £5,000. Charles Hanson, owner of Hansons Auctioneers, said: 'It's the most important charity shop find I've heard about in a decade.' The unsuspecting buyer had picked up the ring from a local shop, unaware of its royal connection. Mr Hanson recalled: 'I was stunned and dazzled. From a simple box emerged a piece of deeply personal Royal history – commissioned by the Royal family itself to honour a lost loved one.' Princess Amelia was born on 7 August 1783 and died aged 27 in 1810 after a long battle with tuberculosis. Her death is thought to have devastated King George III, accelerating his mental decline. She was believed to be his favourite child. The ring, crafted by top royal jewellers Rundell, Bridge & Rundell, was one of only 52 made on the orders of the Prince Regent – who later became King George IV. They were handed out to close family and friends after her funeral in Windsor. 'The white enamel used in the ring denotes that Amelia was unmarried at the time of her death,' Mr Hanson said. 'White enamel symbolised purity and innocence in mourning jewellery, particularly for those who died young or unmarried. "It contrasts with the more commonly used black enamel, which signified general mourning.' In a final act of love, Princess Amelia is said to have pressed a ring containing a lock of her hair into her father's hand as she lay dying, whispering the words now inscribed on the newly discovered ring – 'remember me'. A matching mourning ring was later bought by Queen Mary in 1935. Back in 1810, each ring cost 58 shillings to make. 'This find proves treasures still lie hidden on our high streets,' said Mr Hanson. 'It's not just the monetary value – it's the emotion, history and humanity behind this ring that truly moves you.' Experts believe the ring could attract international interest when it goes under the hammer, thanks to its royal provenance and remarkable condition. Collectors of royal memorabilia are expected to watch the auction closely. Jewellery historian Alexandra Michell said: 'It's incredibly rare to find such a piece outside of established collections. "Mourning jewellery from this era, especially tied to a royal figure, is both historically and emotionally valuable.' The ring has now been placed in secure storage until its auction day to ensure its protection. It will feature as a highlight item in Hansons' Summer Fine Art Jewellery Auction. The auction will take place on 12 June 2025, and bids are expected to come in from across the UK and abroad. 5
