OTTAWA, Ontario — King Charles III and Queen Camilla arrived in Canada on Monday, beginning a two-day visit widely seen as a gesture of solidarity with the country as it pushes back against escalating rhetoric from U.S. President Donald Trump, who recently suggested that Canada should become the 51st state.
The royal couple’s visit, their first to Canada since the start of King Charles’s reign, comes at the invitation of Prime Minister Mark Carney, whose recent election victory was fueled by public backlash against Trump’s provocations. During their stay in Ottawa, the King and Queen will attend ceremonial events, meet with community groups, and hold a private meeting with Carney.
The centerpiece of the visit will come Tuesday when King Charles delivers the Speech from the Throne to Canada’s Parliament — a symbolic and politically significant moment marking the first time in nearly five decades that a reigning monarch has addressed the nation’s lawmakers. The speech, written on the advice of Carney’s government, is expected to emphasize Canada’s sovereignty, directly countering Trump’s claims that the country should be absorbed into the United States.
Canadian officials have framed the speech as a powerful affirmation of national independence, delivered by a monarch who has maintained personal diplomacy with leaders across the world, including Trump. Former high commissioner Jeremy Kinsman said the message is one King Charles will be pleased to convey. “It’s going to be very affirmative of Canadian sovereignty. And I can say personally that it’s something King Charles will celebrate saying,” Kinsman said.
The monarch is also expected to meet with Canada’s first Indigenous Governor General, Mary Simon, and participate in cultural engagements with First Nations communities. A ceremonial welcome was held at the Ottawa airport, reflecting the significance of the occasion for a nation under renewed political pressure.
The royal itinerary is deliberately more subdued than the grandeur of Britain’s State Opening of Parliament, with King Charles expected to wear a suit rather than ceremonial robes. Nevertheless, the symbolism is profound. The King follows in the footsteps of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, who delivered the Speech from the Throne in Canada in 1957 and again in 1977.
In recent days, Canada has seen a surge in patriotic displays, including “Proudly Canadian” posters in businesses throughout Ottawa, as Trump’s annexation rhetoric inflames public opinion. When Carney visited Trump at the White House earlier this month, he firmly stated that “Canada is not for sale,” a sentiment echoed in statements from his administration ahead of the royal visit.
Though the King is expected to strike a diplomatic tone, observers note the challenge of balancing his dual role as head of state for both the United Kingdom and Canada. In the UK, King Charles has worked to maintain cordial relations with the U.S., including extending an invitation to Trump for a second state visit. In Canada, however, he is expected to reflect the country’s clear rejection of Trump’s ambitions.
A royal aide noted that King Charles is well-suited to the moment. “The King has long experience and great skill in walking that diplomatic tightrope. He’s held in high regard around the globe and across the political spectrum, with good relations with world leaders who understand his unique position.”
