King Charles to deliver historic address to Canadian Parliament
The 76-year-old King, who is undergoing treatment for cancer, made the journey to Canada’s capital at the prime minister’s request, joined by Queen Camilla.
King Charles III is set to make a landmark address during the ceremonial opening of Canada’s Parliament on Tuesday, amid rising tensions sparked by U.S. President Donald Trump.
This marks the monarch’s first visit to Canada since his coronation, and Prime Minister Mark Carney says the occasion will be used to underscore the country's independence and national identity.
"This momentous honor reflects the gravity of our current era," remarked Prime Minister Carney.
The 76-year-old King, who is undergoing treatment for cancer, made the journey to Canada’s capital at the prime minister’s request, joined by Queen Camilla.
While King Charles has remained silent on President Trump’s recurring suggestions about turning Canada into the 51st U.S. state, his upcoming speech is expected to draw significant attention for any potential remarks addressing the matter.
Trump has disrupted the global trade system and initiated tariff conflicts with both allies and rivals, with Canada, his northern neighbor, being a primary target.
The "throne speech" is set to take place in the Senate chamber, a space that was once a railway station and has been repurposed while Parliament undergoes extensive renovations.
Though King Charles will deliver the speech as if speaking personally, its content was crafted by the prime minister’s office.
It will outline the government’s agenda to "build Canada strong" and detail the strategies planned to accomplish this.
Canada’s Liberal Party, headed by Mark Carney a technocrat without previous political background, secured victory in the April 28 legislative elections, running a campaign centered entirely on who was best equipped to handle relations with President Trump.
Carney has pledged to lead the most significant overhaul of Canada’s economy since World War II, aiming to strengthen the nation’s ability to "stand up" to Trump.
Using careful diplomatic phrasing, the throne speech is also expected to reaffirm Canada’s sovereignty, an issue Trump has repeatedly challenged by suggesting that Canada should be absorbed into the United States.
Felix Mathieu, a political science professor at the University of Quebec in Outaouais, described the event as highly symbolic, noting, "This marks just the third occasion that the sovereign has personally delivered the speech."
Prior to this, Canada’s monarch has only read the throne speech in person twice—both times by King Charles’s mother, the late Queen Elizabeth II, in 1957 and 1977.
Thousands gathered in the capital on Monday to welcome the king and queen as they began their short visit.
For 32-year-old Shrikant Mogulala, the king’s presence sent "a clear message to Trump that we are not for sale."
Retiree Dave Shaw, 60, described the timing as perfect, saying it was "a great time for him to be here given the current geopolitical situation and our country's challenges."
On their first day, the monarchs toured a farmer’s market, enjoyed Indigenous music, and received military honors.
King Charles also held private meetings with Prime Minister Carney and Indigenous leaders.
On Tuesday morning, they were set to travel to the Senate in a four-wheeled carriage, escorted by 28 horses from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police’s renowned "Musical Ride" unit.
The day’s events include a 21-gun salute, a flyover by fighter jets, and a wreath-laying ceremony at a war memorial.
