King Charles and Queen Camilla are scheduled to visit Canada for a two-day trip, which is seen as a display of support for the country in light of recent threats and taunts from US President Donald Trump. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who recently won a general election based on anti-Trump sentiment, extended the invitation and will hold a meeting with the royal couple during their stay in Ottawa. As part of the visit, the King will deliver the “Speech from the Throne” to Canada’s Parliament on Tuesday, the first time in nearly fifty years that a monarch has carried out this task. The speech is expected to defend Canada’s sovereignty and reject claims that it should be taken over by the US.
The visit will also include a ceremonial welcome at the airport in Ottawa, meetings with community groups, and a meeting with Canada’s first indigenous Governor General, Mary Simon. King Charles and Queen Camilla’s visit to Canada marks their first trip since the beginning of their reign, having postponed a planned visit last year due to King Charles’ cancer diagnosis.
By delivering the “Speech from the Throne,” the King is following in the footsteps of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, who fulfilled this duty twice during her reign. The visit is seen as a show of solidarity with Canada after Trump called for the country to become the 51st US state, an idea that has outraged the Canadian public, with some businesses putting up displays of national identity such as “Proudly Canadian” posters. When Prime Minister Carney visited Trump at the White House, he emphasized that Canada is “not for sale,” a message that is expected to be conveyed in the King’s speech, which is written with the advice of the Canadian government.
Former Canadian high commissioner to the UK Jeremy Kinsman stated that the King would be pleased to deliver this message of Canadian sovereignty. The speech will be delivered in French and English, setting out the Canadian government’s policy agenda, while also asserting Canada’s independence as a Commonwealth country and NATO member. King Charles will wear a suit for the occasion, rather than the elaborate robes worn during the State Opening of Parliament in the UK.
In addition to the speech, the King and Queen’s visit will include community events in Ottawa and meetings with local leaders. As the head of state for both Canada and the UK, the King must balance diplomatic relations with the US while also supporting the Canadian government’s opposition to Trump’s ambition to take over the country. A royal source stated that the King is experienced and skilled at maintaining this delicate diplomatic balance and is held in high regard around the globe.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cgkdnmm8k2no
