King Charles III and Queen Camilla touched down in Ottawa earlier this afternoon, kicking off a whirlwind two-day Canadian visit that will see the monarch deliver the speech from the throne on Tuesday, officially opening the 45th parliament.
Charles’ mother, Queen Elizabeth II, was the last monarch to open Canadian parliament, doing so in 1977 and, previously, in 1957. Charles, however, didn’t just make the trip for the sake of ceremony. The 76-year-old monarch, who last visited with Camilla in 2022 in honour of his mother’s Platinum Jubilee, is here in a show of solidarity – Canada’s head of state delivering a speech from the throne amidst sovereignty and annexation threats from U.S. President Donald Trump.
“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,” Prime Minister Mark Carney said in a statement ahead of the royal couple’s arrival. He added that Charles’ throne speech “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.”
To that end, as soon as the King and Queen exited their plane, royal watchers noted the diamond maple leaf brooch the 77-year-old Queen wore over her heart – a piece originally worn by Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, during a 1939 royal tour of Canada with her husband, King George VI, who gifted it to her. The brooch was passed down to Queen Elizabeth II, who both wore it to Canada herself and loaned it to Catherine, Princess of Wales, for her own Canadian tours. Camilla has also worn the brooch to Canada previously, though it’s never taken on the symbolic significance that it does on this trip.
A Royal Welcome
King Charles and Queen Camilla arrived in Ottawa to an ovation from hundreds of gathered supporters. The welcoming party included Prime Minister Mark Carney and his wife Diana Fox, Governor General Mary Simon and her husband Whit Fraser, as well as Indigenous leaders Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak, National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations, and Natan Obed, president of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, among others.
With no time to relax after their trans-Atlantic flight, Charles and Camilla hopped into an electric vehicle – appropriate for the environmentalist King – and headed to Ottawa’s Lansdowne Park, where they chatted with vendors at a farmer’s market before the monarch dropped the puck for a local street hockey game.
After that, it was on to Rideau Hall to shake hands with crowds of supporters and plant a blue beech tree, which the governor general called “a living symbol of resilience, adaptability and heritage.”
According to the CBC, the soil that the King shovelled onto the tree contained a mix “from all 13 provinces and territories.” The broadcaster also reported that some royal watchers in attendance broke into a performance of God Save the King.
The prime minister and governor general, as well as their respective spouses, accompanied the royal couple on their outings. The King is also slated for private meetings with both today, ahead of the historic throne speech tomorrow.
More Canadians Support the Monarchy
The visit to Canada comes at a fortuitous time for the monarchy, which has seen an uptick in support among Canadians. According to Global News, which commissioned a poll from Ipsos Public Affairs, “66 per cent of respondents believe Canada’s relationship with the monarchy is useful because it helps set us apart from our neighbours to the south.” The outlet noted that that represents a 12 point jump from April 2023, when Canadian favourability of the monarchy stood at 54 per cent.
The poll also noted that, “Support for cutting ties with the Crown has dropped by 12 points since 2023, while more people now think the King is doing a good job, up five points.”
Upon visiting Canada in 2009, Charles, then-Prince of Wales, said in a speech in St. John’s, NFLD, that “Every time I come to Canada … a little more of Canada seeps into my bloodstream – and from there straight to my heart.”
According to his poll numbers in the Great White North, the feeling may be mutual.
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