LONDON/OTTAWA (Reuters) – King Charles flies to Canada on Monday for a extremely symbolic go to exhibiting assist for the nation that acknowledges him as its sovereign however is coveted by U.S. President Donald Trump as a 51st U.S. state.
Following an invite from Prime Minister Mark Carney, Charles will open parliament in Ottawa on Tuesday, the primary time a British monarch has carried out the responsibility since his mom, the late Queen Elizabeth, did so 68 years in the past.
The 76-year-old king remains to be present process most cancers therapy, which has restricted his workload, so the two-day journey reveals his dedication to Canada, one among 15 international locations the place he’s monarch.
Trump has repeatedly expressed a need to annex Canada, a proposition fiercely rebuffed by Carney whose election win final month got here partly on the again of that stance.
“The prime minister has made it clear that Canada will not be on the market now, will not be on the market ever,” Canada’s envoy to the UK, Ralph Goodale, advised reporters throughout a go to final week by Charles to Canada’s excessive fee.
“The king, as head of state, will reinforce the facility and the power of that message.”
Charles has made refined indicators of his backing for Canada in latest months, carrying Canadian medals, calling himself the king of Canada, and describing its flag as “an emblem that by no means fails to elicit a way of satisfaction and admiration”.
Nonetheless, he faces a tough balancing act as British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is working to maintain Trump onside over Ukraine and commerce ties.
When Starmer visited the White Home in February he made nice present of an invitation from Charles for an unprecedented second state go to for Trump, whose mom was born in Britain and who has repeatedly praised the British royal household.
Carney, the previous governor of the Financial institution of England, said that had irked Canadians.
‘Momentous Event’
Charles’ journey, which he’ll make together with his spouse Queen Camilla, might be his first go to to the previous British colony since turning into king in September 2022.
On Monday, the royal couple will go to a big park in Ottawa and meet distributors and artists, in keeping with Buckingham Palace. The king will then take part in a ceremonial puck drop to launch a avenue hockey demonstration earlier than planting a tree in one other a part of town.
It is going to be simply the third time a sovereign has delivered a “Speech from the Throne” within the Canadian Senate, an occasion which opens each new session of parliament.
Charles and Camilla will journey to the Senate in a ceremonial horse-drawn carriage with a 28-horse escort to ship a 25-minute speech written by Carney’s authorities.
Canadian Identification and Tradition Minister Steven Guilbeault stated it might be a “momentous event – one which brings Canadians collectively in celebration of our wealthy historical past, our democracy and the establishments that serve us all.”
(Reporting by Michael Holden and David Ljunggren; Modifying by Andrew Cawthorne)
