King Charles III's go to to Canada underscores its sovereignty to Trump

[ad_1] OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) — King Charles III arrives in Ottawa on Monday, a go to that can underscore Canada’s sovereignty to U.S. President Donald Trump.

Trump’s repeated suggestion that the U.S. annex its northern neighbor prompted Prime Minister Mark Carney to ask Charles to present the speech from the throne that can define his authorities’s agenda for the brand new Parliament.

The king is the head of state in Canada , which is a member of the British Commonwealth of former colonies.

“This historic honor matches the burden of our instances. It speaks to our enduring custom and friendship, to the vitality of our constitutional monarchy and our distinct id, and to the historic ties that crises solely fortify,” Carney mentioned in a press release.

“Canada’s energy lies in constructing a powerful future whereas embracing its English, French, and Indigenous roots — the union of peoples that varieties our bedrock.”

Carney and Canada’s first indigenous Governor Common, Mary Simon, the king’s consultant in Canada, will greet the king and Queen Camilla as properly a 25-member honor guard from the Royal Canadian Dragoons, for which the king is colonel-in-chief.

Charles and Camilla’s presence “reaffirms the enduring constitutional bond that has formed Canada’s journey right into a proud and unbiased nation,” Simon mentioned in a press release Monday.

“Their go to invitations us to mirror on who we're and to have a good time our distinct nationwide id.”

Canadians stress their variations from the U.S. It's uncommon for the monarch to ship what’s referred to as the speech from the throne in Canada. Charles’ mom, Queen Elizabeth II, did it twice in her 70-year reign, the final time in 1977.

Canadians are largely detached to the monarchy, however Carney has been keen to indicate the variations between Canada and america. The king’s go to clearly underscores Canada’s sovereignty, he mentioned.

After America gained independence from Britain, Canada remained a colony till 1867 and afterward, continued as a constitutional monarchy with a British-style parliamentary system.

“We're completely different,” former Quebec Premier Jean Charest mentioned. “In the event you have a look at why King Charles is studying the speech from the throne, then it's a must to then acknowledge Canada’s story.”

Britain’s King Charles, left, is introduced with the Key to Canada Home by Excessive Commissioner for Canada, Ralph Goodale, throughout a go to to Canada Home to mark 100 years because it opened, at Trafalgar Sq., in London, Tuesday Could 20, 2025. (Arthur Edwards/Pool through AP)

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Nonetheless, the brand new U.S. ambassador to Canada, Pete Hoekstra, mentioned sending messages isn’t mandatory and Canadians ought to transfer on from the 51st state speak, telling the Canadian Broadcasting Company that if there’s a message to be despatched there’s simpler methods to try this, comparable to calling him or calling the president.

Royal historian Carolyn Harris expects Trump to note the go to as a result of he has repeatedly spoken about his admiration for the royal household. Trump may see how completely different Canada is from the U.S.

“It's a very distinctive historical past that goes again to the waves of loyalists who settled right here after the American revolution,” Harris mentioned. “And we’re going to seeing the king in a Canadian context, escorted by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, surrounded by Canadian symbolism. That is very a lot King Charles III in his position as King of Canada.”

A royal invitation to Trump ruffles Canadians’ feathers The speech, which will likely be delivered Tuesday, is just not written by the king or his U.Okay. advisers as Charles serves as a nonpartisan head of state. He'll learn what's put earlier than him by Canada’s authorities.

“Charles can solely act with the consent and with the recommendation of his prime minister. However on the similar time he can't act in a approach that may throw any of the opposite 14 Commonwealth realms below the bus. So it's most interesting tightrope to stroll,” mentioned Justin Vovk, a Canadian royal historian.

Canadians weren't comfortable when U.Okay. Prime Minister Keir Starmer prolonged a state go to invitation to Trump on behalf of the king throughout a time when Trump threatened Canada’s sovereignty.

“They weren’t impressed by that gesture, fairly merely, given the circumstance,” Carney instructed Britain’s Sky Information. “It was a time once we had been fairly clear ... concerning the points round sovereignty.”

The king has extra lately been exhibiting assist for Canada, together with displaying Canadian army medals on his chest throughout a go to to a British plane service.

After his arrival, Charles will drop the ceremonial first puck or ball throughout a road hockey sport. He may also attend a neighborhood occasion and meet with Carney. Camilla may also take part in a swearing-in ceremony to change into a Canadian privy councillor, a lifetime appointment that permits her to present recommendation concerning the nation to the king.

The king will return to the U.Okay. after Tuesday’s speech and a go to to Canada’s Nationwide Struggle Memorial.

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