'It's something we deserve': King urged to seek Canadian apology for historical abuse of British children

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King Charles and Queen Camilla are being urged to usage their sojourn to Canada to question an apology for the maltreatment of British children.

Campaigners person called connected them to prosecute an apology for the "dire circumstances" suffered by alleged "Home Children" implicit decades.

More than 100,000 were shipped from orphan homes successful the UK to Canada betwixt 1869 and 1948 with galore utilized arsenic inexpensive labour, typically arsenic workplace workers and home servants. Many were taxable to mistreatment and abuse.

Canada has resisted calls to travel the UK and Australia successful apologising for its engagement successful kid migrant schemes.

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Image: King Charles and Mark Carney connected Monday. Pic: PA

Campaigners for the Home Children accidental the royal visit presents a "great opportunity" for a alteration of heart.

"I would inquire that King Charles uses his travel to petition an apology," John Jefkins told Sky News.

John Jefkins

Image: John Jefkins

John's begetter Bert was 1 of 115,000 British Home Children transported to Canada, arriving successful 1914 with his member Reggie.

"It's truly important for the Home Children themselves and for their descendants," John said.

"It's thing we merit and it's truly important for the healing process, arsenic good arsenic gathering consciousness of the acquisition of the Home Children.

"They were treated very, precise severely by the Canadian authorities astatine the time. A batch of them were abused, they were treated horribly. They were second-class citizens, lepers successful a way."

More connected this story:
The forgotten bequest of British children sent to Canada

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Image: The King and Queen astatine Ottawa Airport. Pic: PA

John added: "I deliberation the King's sojourn provides a large accidental to reenforce our run and to prosecute an apology due to the fact that we're portion of the Commonwealth and King Charles is simply a caller Head of the Commonwealth gathering a caller Canadian premier minister. It's a chance, for both, to look astatine the concern with a caller eye.

"There's overmuch astir this sojourn that looks connected our sovereignty and who we are arsenic Canadians, rightly so.

"I deliberation it's besides close that successful contemplating the state we built, we absorption connected the radical who built it, galore successful the astir trying of circumstances."

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King Charles and Queen Camilla are connected a two-day sojourn to Canada.

On Tuesday, the King volition present the Speech from the Throne to unfastened the 45th league of Canada's parliament.

Camilla was made Patron of Barnardo's successful 2016. The organisation sent tens of thousands of Home Children to Canada. She took connected the role, having served arsenic president since 2007.

Buckingham Palace has been contacted for comment.

A spokesperson for the Canadian authorities said: "The authorities of Canada is committed to keeping the representation of the British Home Children alive.

"Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada profoundly regrets this unjust and discriminatory policy, which was successful spot from 1869 to 1948. Such an attack would person nary spot successful modern Canada, and we indispensable larn from past mistakes."

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