King Charles, in a symbolic visit to Canada, took the opportunity to express his affection for the nation, which he touted as ‘strong and free.’ This visit comes at a time when Canada has been grappling with annexation threats from President Donald Trump.
Charles, the head of state for Canada and the first British monarch to open the Canadian parliament in nearly seven decades, made no direct reference to Trump, who has been reported to have imposed tariffs on Canadian exports and mused about incorporating Canada as the 51st U.S. state.
The speech that Charles addressed to the Senate was largely a product of Prime Minister Mark Carney’s team, but it was Charles who spoke about his fondness for Canada. The monarch, accompanied by Queen Camilla, described the deepening of his love for Canada with each visit.
Reports indicate that King Charles and his Queen were received warmly in Canada, a marked contrast from their visit to Australia in the previous October. In Australia, the royal couple faced protests, reflecting a long-standing debate about the relevance of a distant monarchy.
This development follows earlier reports that a considerable segment of the Canadian public sees value in the relationship with the monarchy. An Ipsos Reid poll released on Tuesday suggests that 66% of respondents consider the monarchy a defining factor that sets Canada apart from the United States, up from 54% in April 2023.
Despite the warmth of the royal visit, the monarchy does not occupy a central role in the everyday life of Canadians. The Angus Reid Institute, a non-profit organization, released a poll showing that 83% of Canadians were indifferent or did not care about the historic visit of the monarch.
In the speech, the government reiterated its belief that Canada needs to negotiate a new relationship with the U.S. and explore more reliable trading partners. The unfolding political scenario raises important questions about the future of Canada’s international relations, particularly with its southern neighbor.