King Charles and Queen Camilla are heading to Canada on Monday for a landmark visit to attend the country’s state opening of Parliament – at a time when Canada is embroiled in a war of words with Donald Trump
The King’s visit to Canada will be a sign of strength and support for the country amid a war of words with Donald Trump. The monarch and Queen Camilla land in Ottawa on Monday, for a landmark visit where the King will attend Canada’s state opening of Parliament.
Charles’ presence will mark the first time in nearly 40 years a British monarch has attended the event. Royal sources have told how the King’s “deep affection for Canada and loyalty to Canadians everywhere” prompted him to “accept without hesitation” an invitation to attend the state opening from new prime minister Mark Carney.
Charles’ visit to Canada, one of the 14 realms where he is King, comes in the wake of verbal aggression from the US president who claimed that the country should become the 51st state of America, prompting outrage.
Former Bank of England governor Mr Carney swept to victory as Prime Minister in an election win last month fuelled by his Liberal Party’s stern opposition to Trump after he also threatened Canada with a trade war.
The new PM has said his country needs to stand up to the “neighbour to the south”, adding Trump “wants to break us so America can own us”. And when Mr Carney met the US president at the White House in the days after his election victory, he told him in no uncertain terms Canada is “not for sale”.
Ahead of jetting off to Canada, both Charles and Camilla toured Canada House in Central London last week, where they were shown a giant map of the country’s historic sites and presented with a key to the building. There Ralph Goodale the High Commissioner for Canada in the UK said the royal visit to Ottawa will “reinforce the power and the strength of the message” to Trump that Canada cannot be bought.
He said: “The prime minister has made it clear that Canada is not for sale, is not for sale ever, and I think he probably added five ‘nevers’ after that to make the point.
“The King as head of state will reinforce the power and the strength of that message and it is as I said before captured in our anthem. We are the true north, strong and free and we will stay that way.” However, the unprecedented trip, which will be Charles’ first to Canada as King, will also see him walk a diplomatic tightrope.
He faces the difficult task of balancing his duties as Canada’s head of state and his role in Keir Starmer’s attempt at maintaining strong relations between the UK and the US. The King is expected to host Trump for an unprecedented second state visit to the UK after Mr Starmer handed the President an invitation letter from Charles at the White House in February. Mr Carney said afterwards Canadians “weren’t impressed” by the gesture “given the circumstance”.
However, when the King met Mr Carney, in March after he had become Prime Minister following the resignation of Justin Trudeau, much was made of Charles’ red tie said to have been worn in support of Canada. At the end of the King’s recent state visit to Italy, a palace official said: “He’s always supported Canada, there is nothing new in that.
“What could perhaps otherwise be simply seen as normal expressions of support do seem to be being noticed a little more. But showing support for Canada is something he’s always done and that he will continue to do.”
The royal trip to Canada will last just two days and as well as the state opening of Parliament, the King and Queen will pack in a visit to a community event celebrating Canada’s cultural heritage and diversity. The King, who is still being treated for cancer, will hold audiences with Canada’s first indigenous Governor General Mary Simon, the King’s representative in Canada, Prime Minister Mr Carney and there will be a short ceremony to swear in Camilla as a member of the Canadian Privy Council.
Charles and Camilla will also hold a short reception for Lieutenant Governors from Canada’s 10 provinces and the Territorial Commissioners from the three territories. A Buckingham Palace spokesman said the King and Queen are “very much looking forward to the programme” and hope that their short visit will be “an impactful one”.
The grand centrepiece of the trip takes place on Tuesday when Charles and Camilla attend the state opening of Parliament, a ceremony similar to that of the UK’s state opening – but without the formality or royal regalia found in Britain. Mr Carney said that having the King at the ceremony is a “historic honour which matches the weight of our times”.
The late Queen was the first sovereign to deliver a speech at the state opening of the Canadian Parliament in October 1957 – her first visit to the country as head of state. She last attended the country’s state opening of Parliament in 1977.
Steven Guilbeault, Canada’s minister of identity and culture, said: “His Majesty’s delivery of the Speech from the Throne to open the 45th Parliament is a momentous occasion – one that brings Canadians together in celebration of our rich history, our democracy and the institutions that serve us all.
“This visit offers an opportunity to showcase the special relationship between Canada and the Crown, while also highlighting the strength, diversity and unity that define us on the world stage.”
