King Charles III: First monarch in decades to address Canadian Parliament
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King Charles III will deliver the Speech from the Throne on Tuesday, May 27, marking the first time a monarch has addressed Canada’s Parliament since 1977.
Prime Minister Mark Carney invited King Charles III to deliver Canada’s throne speech, a gesture not seen since 1977, as the country faces annexation threats and rising tariffs from President Donald Trump. The King arrived in Ottawa on Monday, May 26, for a two-day visit, marking his first trip to Canada since ascending the throne.
His speech to open Parliament comes at a moment of heightened political pressure. Trump has repeatedly referred to Canada as the “51st state” and imposed steep new trade penalties.
Charles, Canada’s official head of state, accepted Prime Minister Mark Carney’s invitation to deliver the Speech from the Throne, opening the 45th session of Parliament. It is the first time a monarch has delivered the speech in nearly half a century. Queen Elizabeth II last did so in 1977.
Why is the King delivering the throne speech?
The governor general, who represents the Monarch in Canada, traditionally reads the Speech from the Throne. The speech outlines the government’s legislative agenda. However, Carney invited the king to deliver it directly, a move widely viewed as a symbolic assertion of Canadian sovereignty during rising tensions with the United States.
“This is a historic honor that matches the weight of our times,” Carney said.
On Tuesday, May 27, Charles will arrive at the Senate with a full military escort and receive a 21-gun salute before he addresses both houses of Parliament. Queen Camilla will accompany him.
How is the visit being received in Canada?
While many Canadians viewed the king’s presence as a reaffirmation of independence, the Bloc Québécois criticized the move. The party stated that Carney had chosen to involve a foreign monarch in a political exercise that should be reserved for elected officials.
Ralph Goodale, Canada’s high commissioner to the U.K., defended the move. “The king, as head of state, will reinforce the power and the strength of that message,” he told reporters.
What role does Trump’s rhetoric play?
Trump has repeatedly floated the idea of annexing Canada. He referred to Carney’s predecessor as “Governor Trudeau of the Great State of Canada.” In a recent White House meeting, Carney told Trump, “Canada won’t be for sale, ever.”
Trump’s annexation rhetoric became a flashpoint in Canada’s recent federal election, where the Liberal Party of Canada prevailed over the Conservatives, seen as less confrontational toward Washington.
In recent months, Charles has subtly signaled support for Canada by wearing Canadian medals, referencing national symbols and planting a maple tree at Buckingham Palace.
Ella Rae Greene, Editor In Chief
