King Charles shares first public message since cancer diagnosis as he sends congratulations to Grenada as the Caribbean country celebrates 50 years of independence amid row over slavery reparations

King Charles, in his first public statement since his shock cancer diagnosis, sent a congratulatory message to Grenada to mark 50 years of independence.

The 75-year-old monarch, who is currently recovering in Sandringham from his first cancer treatment, pushed aside tensions over slavery reparations as he praised the country's “leadership, resilience and innovation”.

It is said that Caribbean countries are in the process of submitting formal demands to the royal family for reparations for slavery.

Rather than trying to reach intergovernmental agreements, several countries want to take their cases directly to descendants of those believed to have benefited from slavery, including King Charles.

The Church of England, Lloyd's of London and wealthy universities are also in the crosshairs, said Arley Gill, chairman of the Grenada National Reparations Committee.

But the king left the issues aside and apologized that he could not “be with you in person” to celebrate the “momentous milestone.”

He also said he has “special memories” of his visit to the island five years ago.

The monarch, 75, set aside tensions over slavery reparations as he praised the nation's “leadership, resilience and innovation.”

His statement in full read: “On the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of Grenada's independence, it gives me great pleasure to send you all my congratulations and warm good wishes.

“Over the past fifty years, I have watched with the deepest admiration as you built your nation and created Grenada's unique place in the world, and as you became an essential member of our Commonwealth family.

“Together you have made Grenada an example of democracy, human rights and the rule of law. Together you have addressed the most critical challenges of climate change and biodiversity loss by setting an example of leadership, resilience and innovation to the world. Together you brought the words of your anthem to life: “Aspire, build, ahead!”

'My wife and I have such special memories of our visit to your beautiful 'Spice Island' five years ago, and of the warm and moving welcome you gave us. Then, as whenever I met Grenadians anywhere in the world, I was struck by your resilience, the strength of your community, and by your shared determination to make a positive difference.

'In this Grenadian spirit you can cherish the greatest pride. Whether it is through the remarkable contributions of Grenada's artists, musicians and authors, or through the triumphs of your athletes, who have all enjoyed such extraordinary success, '473 to the World' is an inspiration to us all.

'I can only say how sorry I am that I cannot be with you in person to celebrate this momentous milestone, and enjoy a little Oil Down with you all! My thoughts are with everyone in Grenada, Carriacou and Petit Martinique, and with everyone in the Grenadian diaspora – 'one people, one family' – as you celebrate all you have achieved and all that your future holds. Together with my family, I send you all our sincere congratulations. Charles R'.

The king apologized that he 'could not be with you in person' to celebrate the 'momentous milestone'

He also said he has “special memories” of his visit to the island five years ago

Late last year it was reported that Caribbean countries would make formal demands from the royal family for slavery reparations by the end of the year.

Arley Gill, Chairman of the Grenada National Reparations Committee, said: “We hope that King Charles will revisit the issue of reparations and make a deeper statement, starting with an apology, and make royal family resources available for restorative justice,” he told the Daily Telegraph.

'He should make some money available. We don't tell him to starve himself and his family, and we don't ask for trinkets. But we believe we can sit down and discuss what can be made available for restorative justice.”

The Reparations Commission for St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) plans to issue formal demands for reparations by the end of this year, it has been claimed. The royal family will also likely be in the spotlight of SVG, which, like Grenada, was a British colony.

The chairman of the reparations committee, Adrian Odle, said that 'every property owned by the royal family has the stench of slavery'.

The campaign was boosted by former BBC correspondent Laura Trevelyan's decision to donate money and apologize to the people of Grenada for her family's role in the historic slave trade.

“My family, the Trevelyans, owned about a thousand slaves on five different sugar plantations in Grenada in the 17th and 18th centuries,” she said last year.

'When slavery was abolished in 1834, our family received compensation from the British government for the loss of our property, as part of the 46,000 British claims filed with the Slave Compensation Commission. We received about £3 million in cash today. The slaves got nothing.”

One of the royal family's most frequently cited ties to slavery was the Royal African Company, which enslaved and transported hundreds of thousands of people from Africa to the Americas.

King Charles said last year that he felt “personal sorrow at the suffering of so many,” but did not go as far as an apology.

However, he never publicly ruled out reparations.

Dutch King Willem-Alexander has apologized for Dutch involvement in slavery, saying he “felt the weight of the words in my heart and soul.”

King Charles is said to be interested in understanding the results of an academic study into the relationship between the British monarchy and the slave trade in the 17th and 18th centuries.