King Charles III has arrived in Canada for a two-day visit at the invitation of Prime Minister Mark Carney, in a move widely interpreted as a symbolic assertion of Canada’s sovereignty following controversial remarks by US President Donald Trump.
The visit marks the monarch’s first trip to the country since his accession in 2022 and comes at a politically sensitive moment.
The 76-year-old King, who is currently undergoing cancer treatment, is accompanied by Queen Camilla. Despite recent health challenges, the monarch is undertaking a full schedule that underscores the importance attached to this visit. Buckingham Palace has described the tour as “highly significant”, both diplomatically and symbolically.
The central event of the visit will be King Charles’ participation in Tuesday’s ceremonial opening of the Canadian Parliament in Ottawa. He is set to deliver a 25-minute Speech from the Throne, marking only the third such address by a reigning monarch in Canadian history. The speech, composed by Carney’s government, will set out the legislative priorities of the new administration.
Charles and Camilla will travel to the Senate in a horse-drawn carriage, accompanied by a 28-horse Royal Canadian Mounted Police escort. Canadian officials have described the moment as historic. Minister of Canadian Heritage Steven Guilbeault stated, “It is a momentous occasion – one that brings Canadians together in celebration of our rich history, our democracy and the institutions that serve us all.”
Prime Minister Carney, a former Governor of the Bank of England, has taken a firm stance against recent rhetoric from Washington. Since returning to office in January, President Trump has repeatedly suggested that Canada should become the 51st state of the United States. The remarks have been widely condemned across Canada’s political establishment and played a notable role in Carney’s recent election campaign.
“The prime minister has made it clear that Canada is not for sale now, is not for sale ever,” said Ralph Goodale, Canada’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, during King Charles’ visit last week to Canada House in London.
Carney’s decision to invite the King to open Parliament has been described by Canadian officials as a deliberate act of constitutional reaffirmation. The timing of the visit, and its ceremonial prominence, is seen as a direct counter to the perceived erosion of Canadian sovereignty.
The King has in recent months made a series of gestures signalling support for Canada’s national identity. These include wearing Canadian military medals, describing Canada’s red and white flag as “a symbol that never fails to elicit a sense of pride and admiration”, and publicly referring to himself as “King of Canada”.
However, the monarch’s position is diplomatically delicate. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has maintained close engagement with the Trump administration, particularly in light of ongoing negotiations concerning Ukraine and transatlantic trade. Earlier this year, Starmer publicly supported a second state visit invitation for President Trump – a move that reportedly drew criticism in Ottawa.
Sources close to the Canadian government have indicated that Starmer’s approach is viewed as tone-deaf by senior Canadian officials, particularly in the context of Trump’s annexation rhetoric. Carney himself noted last week that the invitation to Trump stood in stark contrast to the message Canada was sending to its southern neighbour.
The King’s visit to Canada comes at a time of renewed focus on the Commonwealth realm’s constitutional arrangements. As one of fifteen countries where Charles remains head of state, Canada’s status has gained new relevance amid US pressures and evolving public sentiment. Canadian polling has shown increased support for retaining the monarchy as a constitutional safeguard in light of recent geopolitical developments.
The visit concludes on Tuesday evening following the parliamentary address and an official dinner hosted by Prime Minister Carney. Despite its brevity, the royal tour is expected to have lasting resonance, particularly as Canada continues to navigate a complex relationship with its powerful southern neighbour.
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