but after he became king, he was asked by the government not to attend a climate conference. there is one clear and present issue that king charles will have to comment on at some point, and that is the legacy of britain's imperial past. this is brussels, in belgium, where the royal family is trying to come to terms with its own colonial past. the black lives matter protests that swept the world following the murder of george floyd were particularly effective in belgium. the country's record of extreme brutality in the congo under king leopold ii was under scrutiny. the current king of belgium, philippe, has recently issued a letter of regret for his ancestors�* actions, but it�*s only regret. his aunt, princess maria esmeralda, she has taken it a step further and has really dedicated herself to making amends. her highness frequently broadcasts on belgium�*s historical record during herfamily�*s era of empire.