英國派查爾斯國王投入政治前線，幕僚稱他是「祕密武器」

麥可・霍爾登報導By Michael Holden

倫敦，11月5日（路透社）—— 一名王室高級幕僚表示，查爾斯國王是英國政府愈來愈常派去處理棘手政治情勢的「祕密武器」。這番話是在這位君主完成一趟外交上充滿挑戰的加勒比海訪問後所說。LONDON, Nov 5 (Reuters) - King Charles is "a secret weapon" being increasingly thrust by the British government into dealing with challenging political situations, a senior royal aide has said following a diplomatically challenging trip by the monarch to the Caribbean.

這趟行程也包括由查爾斯擔任元首的大英國協會議，焦點集中在奴隸制度問題，尤其是英國與國王是否應為跨大西洋奴隸貿易道歉，並提出賠償。The trip, which also included a meeting of the Commonwealth of Nations, which Charles heads, was dominated by the issue of slavery, and specifically whether Britain and the king should apologise for the transatlantic slave trade and offer to pay reparations.

國王在演說中並未道歉或提出賠償，這與英國政府政策一致；但他對奴隸制度暴行表達個人悲痛，普遍獲得56國大英國協領袖歡迎，視為向前邁出的正面一步。The king did neither in speeches he made, in line with British government policy, but his expression of personal sorrow about the horrors of slavery was broadly welcomed by leaders of the 56-nation Commonwealth as a positive step forward.

「以言語與行動展現治國之術」'STATECRAFT BY WORD AND DEED'

這名高級幕僚罕見坦率地表示，這趟訪問複雜且充滿挑戰，但國王「以言語與行動展現了他的治國之術」。In unusually frank remarks, the senior aide described the tour as complex and challenging, but said the king "had demonstrated his statecraft both by word and deed".

這名幕僚在匿名情況下告訴記者：「派國王去，是一項很強大的祕密武器。」他並補充說，這位君主「能夠觸及那些——恕我直言——政治人物大概不太能觸及的層面」。"It’s a great secret weapon to send the king," the aide told reporters on condition of anonymity, adding the monarch was "able to reach the parts that, dare I say, politicians probably couldn't quite have reached".

英國君主是英國象徵性的國家元首，但依憲法必須置身政治之外。The monarch is Britain's symbolic head of state but is constitutionally required to stay out of politics.

近年來，隨著英國對世界事務的影響力減弱，政府經常轉向君主，請其主導外交策略。In recent times, as Britain's influence over world affairs has diminished, the government has often turned to the monarch to lead its diplomatic strategies.

在與美國總統唐納・川普關係緊張之際，最近一次是因伊朗戰爭而起，英國政府徵召查爾斯協助緩和關係。查爾斯在母親伊莉莎白女王逝世後，於2022年9月成為國王；他接待川普進行國是訪問，之後也對美國進行回訪性國是訪問。Amid tensions with US President Donald Trump, most recently over the Iran war, the government enlisted Charles — who became king in September 2022 on the death of his mother Queen Elizabeth — to help smooth relations. The king hosted Trump on a state visit and then paid a reciprocal state visit to the US.

這名高級幕僚表示：「我們才剛進入在位第五年，而我認為我們看到一個非常清楚的模式正在形成：政府要求國王投入相當具政治火藥味、相當具有挑戰性的情勢。」"We’re just in the fifth year of the reign and I think what we're seeing is a very clear pattern emerging of the government asking the king to head into quite politically charged situations, quite challenging situations," the senior aide said.

這名幕僚表示，處理這份工作艱難的部分，正是國王樂在其中之處。他並補充說，「在一些複雜政治議題牽動其中的情況下，與各國重建並振興關係，這正是他全心投入的事」。Dealing with the tough part of the job was what he relished, the aide said, adding that "refreshing and reinvigorating relationships with nations where there have been some complex political issues at play, that is what he lives and breathes for".

君主制經歷艱難一年DIFFICULT YEAR FOR MONARCHY

這趟訪問是英國君主制又一個艱難年頭中的高點。今年，查爾斯第一任妻子黛安娜王妃的傳記出版，該書由黛安娜的弟弟撰寫，內容包含對查爾斯在黛安娜死後反應的批評。The tour marks a high point in what has been another difficult year for the monarchy with the release of a biography of Charles' first wife, Princess Diana, written by her brother, which featured criticisms of Charles' reaction to her death.

查爾斯的弟弟安德魯・蒙巴頓-溫莎仍持續登上負面新聞版面，因為他仍在接受警方調查——安德魯否認有任何不當行為——而國王的小兒子哈利王子返回英國，也帶來了複雜情況。Charles' younger brother Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor continues to make negative headlines as he remains under police investigation - Andrew denies any wrongdoing - , while the return to Britain of the king's younger son Prince Harry has also brought complications.

雖然查爾斯仍是大英國協元首，也仍是包括加拿大與澳洲在內15國的國家元首，但這名幕僚承認，這種情況也可能改變；巴貝多是最近一個在2021年拋棄君主制的國家。While Charles remains head of the Commonwealth and is still the head of state of 15 nations, including Canada and Australia, the aide acknowledged that situation could also change, with Barbados the latest nation to ditch the monarchy in 2021.

這名幕僚表示，未來要怎麼做，應由各國與大英國協自行決定。The aide said it was for nations and the Commonwealth to decide what to do in future.

這名幕僚補充說：「（王室）家族在受到需要時就服務；如果不被需要，也可以找到新的安排。」"The (royal) family serves when it’s wanted and if not, then a new arrangement can be found," the aide added.

查爾斯本月將滿78歲，目前仍在癌症康復中，但這名幕僚表示，對他年齡與健康的擔憂，最好用眼前所見來回答：查爾斯在攝氏40度（華氏104度）高溫下，於巴哈馬街頭跳舞並揮舞牛鈴，以及他在遭熱帶暴雨淋濕後展現的幽默感。Charles, who turns 78 this month, is still recovering from cancer but the aide said concerns about his age and health were best answered by the sight of Charles waving cowbells as he danced down a street in the Bahamas in 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) heat and the humour he showed after being caught in a tropical rainstorm.

這名幕僚表示：「這確實就是他生來要做的事。他很擅長，也享受人們對他的反應。」"This is literally what he was born to do. He's very good at it, and he enjoys the reaction he gets from people," the aide said.

（麥可・霍爾登報導蓋瑞斯・瓊斯編輯）(Reporting by Michael HoldenEditing by Gareth Jones)