Royal Profits from Slavery: Unveiling King George IV's Ties to Enslaved Labor

New research by independent scholar Desirée Baptiste reveals that Britain's King George IV profited from enslaved labor on Grenadian plantations. The findings have increased pressure on the monarchy to address its historical connections to slavery, highlighting a significant link between royal wealth and colonial exploitation.

New research indicates that Britain's King George IV personally profited from enslaved labor on Grenadian plantations. These revelations, discovered by independent scholar Desirée Baptiste, have intensified calls for the monarchy to confront its ties to historical slavery.

Baptiste found a document from 1823-24 at London's National Archives revealing a payment of 1,000 pounds, equivalent to 103,132 pounds today, to King George IV from Crown-owned estates in Grenada. Verified by academics, this payment is seen as part of the monarchy's profits from slavery, indicating more undiscovered links.

Buckingham Palace declined to comment. The revelations coincide with growing momentum for slavery reparations globally, amid criticism of European leaders for resisting the conversation. King Charles has expressed sorrow over slavery, yet no monarch has publicly acknowledged the Crown's historical profit from enslaved people.

(With inputs from agencies.)