King Charles III has arrived in Canada for a two-day state visit, marking his first trip to the country as monarch, Al Jazeera reports.
The visit, seen as highly symbolic, comes amid growing diplomatic tension between Canada and the United States, following U.S. President Donald Trump’s inflammatory remarks suggesting Canada should be annexed as the 51st U.S. state.
The royal tour began Monday in Ottawa at the invitation of newly elected Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, whose party secured victory in last month’s elections, buoyed by nationalist sentiment in response to Trump’s threats.
Though King Charles’s role is ceremonial, his presence in Canada is being widely interpreted as a subtle show of support for the country’s sovereignty and constitutional identity. As head of state in Canada—a Commonwealth realm since its independence in 1867—Charles is expected to deliver a “Speech from the Throne” in Parliament on Tuesday, the first such address by a British monarch in Canada since Queen Elizabeth II in 1977.
Canadian officials, including Prime Minister Carney, have positioned the visit as a reaffirmation of national identity.
“The royal visit highlights the vitality of our constitutional monarchy and our distinct identity,” Carney said.
He added that the upcoming Throne Speech will outline a new vision for Canada’s relationship with the U.S., focusing on economic reform, cost-of-living relief, and national security.
The Canadian government has strongly condemned Trump’s annexation remarks, and the visit is being used to reinforce that stance.
“The King, as head of state, will reinforce the power of the message that Canada is not for sale,” said Ralph Goodale, Canada’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom.
Governor General Mary Simon, Charles’s representative in Canada and the first Indigenous person to hold the role, described the royal visit as “profoundly significant,” noting that it “reaffirms the enduring constitutional bond that has shaped Canada’s journey into a proud and independent nation.”
