King Charles walks diplomatic tightrope on Canada visit
Charles’ historic visit to open Canada’s parliament is seen as part of the pushback against Donald Trump’s annexation threats.
King Charles III and Queen Camilla were greeted with shouts of “welcome home” as they shook hands in Ottawa at the start of a whirlwind two-day visit to Canada amid its tensions with the US.
The inference was clear: no matter what they’re called in Britain, here they are the King and Queen of Canada.
Last week, at Canada House in Trafalgar Square, Ralph Goodale, the high commissioner for Canada in the UK, told the King: “Your dear mother Queen Elizabeth II often said to the delight of Canadians that a journey to Canada felt like coming home. We hope that you feel exactly the same way.”
As Charles took time meeting crowds under the hot midday sun in Ottawa, it seemed so.
After months of small signs of support for Canada in its trade war with the US, this visit was the full seal of approval. Charles and Camilla flew in from Brize Norton on board an Airbus CC-330 Husky, one of nine new aircraft acquired by the Canadian RAF.
At Ottawa’s Macdonald-Cartier airport they were met by Mark Carney, the country’s prime minister, recently elected by Canadian voters incensed by President Trump’s references to it being the 51st US state.
In a statement before their arrival, Carney said: “The royal visit is a reminder of the bond between Canada and the Crown – one forged over generations, shaped by shared histories, and grounded in common values. A bond that, over time, has evolved, just as Canada has, to reflect the strength, diversity, and confidence of our people.
“Tomorrow, His Majesty King Charles III will deliver the Speech from the Throne in the Senate Chamber, nearly 70 years after Canada’s Sovereign first opened parliament. This historic honour matches the weight of our times. It speaks to our enduring tradition and friendship, to the vitality of our constitutional monarchy and our distinct identity, and to the historic ties that crises only fortify.”
Carney acted as host, travelling with the royal guests to Lansdowne Park in Ottawa, where the crowds whooped for the King and Queen and included a few cheers, handshakes and selfie requests for “Mr prime minister”, the man who sat in the Oval Office and told Trump that Canada was “not for sale”.
As Charles and Camilla visited a horticulture building to see stands representing groups and charities from across the country, they were joined by Carney and his wife, Diana.
This is Charles’s 20th visit to Canada, but this is arguably his most important. For him, the visit will be marked by two Ps; people and parliament. First, the people. As the royals made their way along the barriers, shaking hands with members of the public, they were told variations of “thank you so much for coming”. Annie Riendeau, 50, from Montreal, showed Charles, 76, a tattoo of his late mother’s cypher EIIR on her inner forearm and told the King: “I’m going to get one for you too, soon.”
Camilla, 77, was wearing a pink fringed Anna Valentine coatdress and, in a diplomatic nod to her hosts, a diamond maple leaf brooch that was a gift to the Queen Mother by King George VI. The Queen Mother had worn it on a royal visit to Canada in the months preceding the Second World War when the UK was keen to shore up a transatlantic alliance. This time, palace sources have acknowledged that the King must walk a “tightrope” between his role as head of state for the UK, a country that has invited Trump for a second state visit, and head of state for Canada, a nation fighting to reinforce its sovereignty in the face of comments from the US president that the border is an “artificially drawn line”.
There are other geopolitical issues that the King and Queen are happy to highlight. During the visit, Camilla was introduced to a group of volunteers for the Maple Hope Foundation, which runs the “Heal a Mother’s Heart” project. The initiative supports women in Ukraine who have lost their children or loved ones due to the war, offering recreational and psychological rehabilitation programmes and therapy for grief support. Camilla told them: “What you’re doing is so important.”
Maryna Popovych, president of the Ukrainian Canadian Social Services [UCSS], replied: “Thanks to you and the whole royal family for your support for Ukraine, it means so much.”
At a Garland Sugar Shack, a member of the Royal Household purchased two bottles of maple syrup for the King and Queen to take home with them.
At a stall for Ingenium, a collection of three national museums, he was introduced to a Canadian Arcott sheep and a man riding a stationary bike to demonstrate how it takes 13 people riding one non-stop to power one average Canadian home. The King was particularly interested in hearing about the sheep, which is considered a Canadian breeding success story, and said that he was “proud to be” a champion of wool.
Later on Tuesday comes the second P for parliament. It will be a chance for the King to make history when he becomes the second sovereign to open the country’s parliament, the first time since his mother did so in 1957.
After meeting the public, the King and Queen turned to official duties.
Charles held an audience with Carney at Rideau Hall, the official residence of the governor-general in Ottawa, while Camilla followed in the late Prince Philip’s footsteps when she was sworn in as a member of the Canadian Privy Council during a short ceremony.
As well as a new prime minister, there were old friends to meet, too. While planting a tree near one they planted in 2017, Charles and Camilla were reunited with some of the Canadian women who, as teenagers, travelled from Canada to the UK for the late Queen’s Coronation in 1953. Carol Shipley, 89, Monique Guilbault, 89, and Barbara Warmegent, 88, were among 50 women from across Canada who were sponsored by the Canadian businessman Garfield Weston to attend the coronation of Queen Elizabeth in 1953.
The royals planted a blue beech (Carpinus caroliniana), a small deciduous tree native to eastern North America, they shook hands and chatted with the three women. Shipley said: “I’m very happy that the King came today, particularly at this time in our history when we are striving for our sovereignty.”
Before they departed for Rideau Hall, Charles and Camilla watched as Orkidstra, a youth orchestra, performed Hymn to Freedom by Oscar Peterson.
A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said that the King and Queen were “mindful that it is a short visit but hopefully an impactful one”.
The Times
More Coverage
Add your comment to this story
The Obamas’ other ‘first lady’
Deesha Dyer was unlike any previous White House social secretary. Her new memoir reveals what went on in the East Wing.
Heavy metal fans could face jail in Russia as Putin bans ‘satanists’
The Kremlin’s top court outlawed the non-existent ‘international satanism movement’ after appeals from the Russian Orthodox Church leader.
To join the conversation, please log in. Don't have an account? Register
Join the conversation, you are commenting as Logout