By David Ljunggren
OTTAWA (Reuters) -King Charles, speaking during a brief symbolic visit to show support for Canada at a time it has faced annexation threats from U.S. President Donald Trump, on Tuesday expressed his love for the country, which he described as “strong and free.”
Charles, Canada’s head of state, is the first British monarch in almost 70 years to preside over the opening of the Canadian parliament.
In a speech in the Senate, Charles referred to “the country that Canadians and I love so much” but did not mention Trump, who has imposed tariffs on Canadian exports and muses about turning Canada into the 51st U.S. state.
“The True North is indeed strong and free,” Charles said, referring to Canada’s national anthem.
The speech outlining the government’s plans was largely written by officials working for Prime Minister Mark Carney. But Charles was responsible for the comments about Canada.
“Every time I come to Canada … a little more of Canada seeps into my bloodstream – and from there straight to my heart,” said the monarch, accompanied by his wife Queen Camilla.
“Canada has continued to set an example to the world in her conduct and values, as a force for good.”
The 76-year-old king, who is undergoing cancer treatment, later left Canada after a visit that barely lasted 24 hours.
Charles, who joked and laughed with Carney before the speech, wore the Order of Canada around his neck. Canada is one of 15 countries where he is monarch.
USEFUL RELATIONSHIP
He and Camilla were driven to the Senate in a horse-drawn carriage, escorted by 28 riders from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and cheered on by flag-waving onlookers.
An Ipsos Reid poll released on Tuesday for Global News found that 66% of respondents believed Canada’s relationship with the monarchy was useful because it helped set the nation apart from the United States, up from 54% in April 2023.
“With the tariffs and … the trade war, if the British monarchy plays a more active role in Canadian politics and standing up for Canada, then I welcome the British monarchy,” Toronto realtor Abdel Rafeeq said on Tuesday.
In the speech, the government reiterated its belief that Canada needs to agree a new relationship with the U.S. and look for more reliable trading partners.
Carney, asked later whether the King had reinforced Canada’s sovereignty, replied “Our sovereignty is strong”.
The welcome for the royal couple contrasted with a visit to Australia last October, when an Indigenous senator heckled Charles in Parliament House, accusing him of “genocide”.
Australia has long debated the need to keep a distant monarch. A 1999 referendum on becoming a republic lost with 55% of voters opposed.
The monarchy is not a major factor in Canadian daily life, even though coins and bank notes feature the monarch’s head and the country is defended by the Royal Canadian Air Force and the Royal Canadian Navy.
A poll from the non-profit Angus Reid Institute released on Tuesday showed 83% of Canadians say they were indifferent or did not care about the visit.
(Additional reporting by Promit Mukherjee in Ottawa and Kyaw Soe Oo in Toronto; Editing by Caroline Stauffer, Joe Bavier and Emelia Sithole-Matarise)
