King Charles III will visit Ottawa on Monday to officially open Canada’s new parliament session in a move that has been interpreted by many as a symbolic rebuff to recent U.S. President Donald Trump’s comments of annexation.
At 76, the King will be giving the throne speech on Prime Minister Mark Carney’s invitation, setting the agenda for the new government. Traditionally, it is given by the Governor General, the King’s official representative in Canada.
Carney last week indicated that the coming throne speech would outline the government’s strategy for ‘building Canada strong’. His government, he stressed, had been given a clear mandate ‘to define a new economic and security relationship with the United States’, referring to the neighboring country as one ‘Canada can no longer trust’.
Trump’s repeated declarations that Canada might be annexed as the 51st U.S. state have caused both internal and global alarm. Although King Charles has avoided making explicit mentions of Trump’s annexation ideology, his visit to Canada will be scrutinized for any implicit references to national sovereignty and trade relationships.
The visit is Charles’s first to Canada since his coronation and only the third time a British monarch will read the throne speech in person: his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, did it in 1957 and 1977.
The royal visit has been described by the Canadian government as ‘a momentous and historic occasion that speaks to Canada’s identity and sovereignty as a constitutional monarchy’.
While in town for only a 24-hour visit, King Charles, along with Queen Camilla, will receive Carney, Indigenous leaders, community groups, and Governor General Mary Simon. A ceremonial welcome as well as military honors are scheduled at the Senate prior to the throne speech on Tuesday.
Royal commentator Edward Wang, traveling from Vancouver to observe the event, said, “At a time when our nation’s sovereignty is being tested, having our head of state open the first session of a new Parliament makes a statement. The whole world will be paying attention.”
Some view the royal visit as a pointed message to Washington, but not everyone. U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra downplayed the importance of the visit, saying to CBC, “If there’s a message in there, there’s easier ways to send messages. Just give me a call. Carney can call the president at any time.”
He went on, “Move on. If the Canadians want to keep talking about it, that’s their business,” emphasizing the annexation debate is ‘over’.
Regardless of such comments, Canada’s current government seems keen on cutting down its reliance on U.S. trade by building domestic trade and increasing connections with international allies.
Canada’s latest moves come after Trump’s presidency had earlier placed a series of tariffs on Canadian products ranging from steel and aluminum to automobiles, some of which were later put on hold during talks. These steps have made an enduring impact on Canada’s economy and seem to be affecting its changing foreign policy strategy.
In his recent Oval Office sit-down with Carney, Trump was said to have reaffirmed his perception of a possible U.S.-Canada union as being a ‘wonderful marriage’. Carney pushed back firmly by declaring, ‘Canada was never for sale’.
