Prince Charles expressed his personal sorrow over slaverys enduring impact in a speech to Commonwealth leaders in Rwanda on Friday.

I want to acknowledge that the roots of our contemporary association run deep into the most painful period of our history, the Prince of Wales said at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting opening ceremony in Kigali.

I cannot describe the depths of my personal sorrow at the suffering of so many, as I continue to deepen my own understanding of slaverys enduring impact, said Charles, heir to the throne.

If we are to forge a common future that benefits all our citizens, we too must find ways new ways to acknowledge our past, he added. Quite simply, this is a conversation whose time has come.