6 hours ago
Last Updated:May 23, 2025, 21:08 IST
As Trump revives talk of annexing Canada, Prime Minister Mark Carney turns to King Charles to assert the country's independence.
As Trump stirs controversy and Carney calls in the Crown, Canada and the US clash over symbols, sovereignty, and the message behind a royal visit by King Charles. (IMAGE: AP/REUTERS/AFP)
King Charles III will travel to Canada to deliver a clear message: the country is a sovereign nation, distinct from the United States.
The visit comes after repeated remarks by US President Donald Trump suggesting that Washington should consider annexing its northern neighbor. In response, Canada’s new Prime Minister Mark Carney invited the monarch to deliver the speech from the throne on Tuesday, outlining his government’s agenda as Parliament reopens.
Charles, who is Canada’s head of state as part of the British Commonwealth, is expected to reinforce Ottawa’s position on sovereignty. “Canada has a steadfast defender in our sovereign," Carney said earlier this month while announcing the visit.
While most Canadians remain indifferent to the monarchy, Prime Minister Carney has made it a point to highlight the country’s differences with the US. He said the king’s visit serves as a clear reminder of Canada’s sovereignty at a time when Washington’s rhetoric is raising eyebrows.
A report by the Associated Press pointed out that it is extraordinarily rare for the monarch to deliver what’s called the speech from the throne in Canada. Charles’ mother, Queen Elizabeth II, only did it twice in her 70-year reign. The last time was in 1977.
The Americans had a revolution to gain independence from Britain. Canada remained a colony until 1867 and continued thereafter as a constitutional monarchy with a British-style parliamentary system.
“We’re different. We are not the United States. It sounds simple, but that’s what the visit says. We don’t have the same institutions. We don’t have the same history. e are a different country with a different choice in terms of how how we built ourselves, and King Charles tells that story," former Quebec Premier Jean Charest was quoted as saying by the Associated Press.
This will be Charles’ first visit as monarch. He visited Canada 19 times as prince. The king has been showing his support for Canada in recent months, including displaying Canadian military medals on his chest during a visit to a Royal Navy aircraft carrier.
But not everyone sees the royal visit as necessary diplomacy. New US Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra downplayed the symbolism, saying there are easier ways to send a message. “We’re thrilled that the king will be here. But if there’s a message in that, just give me a call. Carney can call the president anytime," Hoekstra told CBC. “I know what the implication is — the ‘51st state’ talk. It’s over. Move on."
Location :Ottawa, Canada
First Published:News world ‘Canada Has A Steadfast Defender’: PM Carney Turns To King Charles As Trump Threatens Annexation
