Historians Link British Monarchy to Slave Trade Branding

Historians and the Register of British Slave Traders have uncovered evidence that the British monarchy was deeply involved in the transatlantic slave trade. Research led by Dr. Nicholas Radburn reveals that the South Sea Company, a crown-backed enterprise, instructed agents to mark enslaved Africans on the left shoulder using hot metal brands bearing the royal crown, despite medical warnings against the practice.

The research identifies several monarchs as central to these operations. King James II is described as the most important English slave trader of the 17th century, while Queen Anne acted as a significant investor and leader in trafficking operations, securing the asiento contract to furnish the Spanish West Indies with enslaved people.

While King Charles III has characterized enslavement as an "appalling atrocity," he has not issued a formal apology for the monarchy's role. In response to these historic ties, a Jamaican delegation recently petitioned the King for a legal ruling on whether the forced transport of Africans to Jamaica constituted a crime against humanity and if restitution is owed to the affected communities.