Kathrine Frich
Charles and Queen Camilla will arrive in Ottawa next Monday.
Charles and Queen Camilla will arrive in Ottawa next Monday.
A Trip to Canada
King Charles is preparing to make his first trip to Canada as monarch, and it carries a pointed subtext: “Canada is not for sale.”
This comes amid provocative remarks from U.S. President Donald Trump suggesting Canada should become the 51st state of America.
A Royal Visit with Political Weight
Charles and Queen Camilla will arrive in Ottawa next Monday to attend the State Opening of Parliament.
The visit is being widely interpreted as a diplomatic stand not just ceremonial, reinforcing Canada’s independence and national pride amid cross-border tensions.
A Walk Across Canada
Before their departure, the royal couple visited Canada House in London’s Trafalgar Square.
There, they viewed an enormous floor map of Canada’s historic and natural landmarks.
“It’s brilliant, it really is,” said Charles as he strolled across the map, tracing the vast geography of a nation he’s visited 19 times before.
A Message from Canada: ‘Never for Sale’
Canada’s High Commissioner to the UK, Ralph Goodale, made no secret of the deeper meaning behind the King’s visit.
Quoting Prime Minister Mark Carney’s emphatic response to Trump’s comments, Goodale said:
“Canada is not for sale, not now, not ever,” adding that Charles would reinforce that message through his symbolic presence.
Honouring a Century of Canada House
The trip will also mark 100 years since King George V inaugurated Canada House in 1925.
Following in his great-grandfather’s footsteps, King Charles was ceremoniously presented with a key to the building, crafted by Indigenous artist Morgan Asoyuf using Canadian metals, echoing the original gifted to George V.
Charles Points Out a Royal Memory
Charles appeared especially moved while examining a portion of the map showing Churchill, Manitoba, a location famed for polar bears.
“I had my first audience with [the late Queen] in 2021, and she spoke fondly of Churchill,” he shared, reflecting on his mother’s enduring affection for Canada.
A Queen’s Canadian Nostalgia
Queen Camilla, dressed in a soft cream floral print by Fiona Clare, shared a personal recollection during the visit. Pointing to Quebec, she mentioned a past family holiday in the region, calling it “lovely.”
A staff member pointed out that the same area was the site of the Battle of Quebec, a pivotal moment in Canadian history.
BBC’s Lyse Doucet Joins the Reception
Among the guests at the Canada House event was Lyse Doucet, the BBC’s chief international correspondent, who was seen conversing with the King.
The reception celebrated the upcoming journey and provided a moment of relaxed diplomacy ahead of the formal State Opening.
The King’s Presence Signals Sovereignty
Chief Perry Bellegarde, a prominent First Nations leader, called the King’s attendance at the State Opening of Parliament “a huge deal.”
He noted that having the monarch deliver the speech from the throne was a powerful statement underscoring Canada’s sovereignty and autonomy on the global stage.
Royals to Connect with Local Communities in Ottawa
After landing in Ottawa, Charles and Camilla will begin their tour with a community engagement, offering a grassroots element to the royal visit.
The schedule blends statecraft with public connection, a hallmark of Charles’s approach to modern monarchy.
Echoes of Queen Elizabeth II’s Canadian Affection
The late Queen Elizabeth II often said visiting Canada felt like “coming home,” a sentiment Goodale hoped Charles would share.
“This will be your 20th visit but your first as reigning monarch,” he noted, adding a personal touch to what is also a diplomatic mission.