Canada is facing a “critical moment” in its history, King Charles said on Tuesday at the opening of the country’s parliament, in an address that was seen as a show of support in the face of annexation threats by Donald Trump.
In a speech to the Senate in Ottawa, written by Canada’s new government, Charles said prime minister Mark Carney’s administration would bond with “reliable trading partners and allies” – a nod to Mr Trump’s disruptive economic tactics.
Many Canadians have seen the King’s two-day visit to Ottawa – his 20th to the country overall – as a symbol of support for a nation that has faced the unwanted attention of Mr Trump, who has both enacted a trade war against his neighbour and threatened to annex it.
Charles referred to “the country that Canadians and I love so much”, but made no direct reference to the US president, who has imposed tariffs on Canadian exports and muses about turning Canada into America’s 51st state. Charles also told the parliament that “self-determination” is among a number of values that Canada holds dear and that its government is “determined to protect”.
He is the first British monarch in almost 50 years to preside over the opening of the Canadian parliament. Queen Elizabeth II did so twice, in 1957 and 1977.
The King said that on the first of these occasions, in 1957, the Second World War remained a fresh, painful memory and the Cold War was intensifying.
“Freedom and democracy were under threat,” Charles said in his speech, which lasted 26 minutes and was delivered in English and French. “Today, Canada faces another critical moment. Democracy, pluralism, the rule of law, self-determination and freedom are values which Canadians hold dear, and ones which the government is determined to protect.
“The system of open global trade that, while not perfect, has helped to deliver prosperity for Canadians for decades, is changing. Canada’s relationships with its partners are also changing. We must be clear-eyed: the world is a more dangerous and uncertain place than at any point since the Second World War. Canada is facing challenges that are unprecedented in our lifetimes.”
Charles also said that the Canadian government would “protect Canada’s sovereignty by rebuilding, rearming, and reinvesting in the Canadian armed forces”.
“It will stimulate the Canadian military industry by participating in the ‘ReArm Europe’ plan and will thus contribute, together with European partners, to transatlantic security. And it will invest to strengthen its presence in the north, as this region, which is an integral part of the Canadian nation, faces new threats,” the King said.
He added: “The prime minister and the president of the United States, for example, have begun defining a new economic and security relationship between Canada and the US, rooted in mutual respect and founded on common interests, to deliver transformational benefits for both sovereign nations.
“In parallel, the government is working to strengthen its relationships with reliable trading partners and allies around the world, recognising that Canada has what the world needs and values the world respects.”
The speech isn’t written by the King or his advisers, as Charles serves as a non-partisan head of state. He read what was put before him by Canada’s government, but made some remarks of his own.
He and Camilla were driven to the Senate in a horsedrawn carriage, escorted by 28 riders from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and cheered by flag-waving onlookers. Charles then inspected an honour guard, all clad in bright red uniforms.
The King and Queen later took part in a solemn wreath-laying ceremony at the National War Memorial as their visit to Canada came to a close. The royal couple and the gathered crowds observed a minute’s silence, standing still as the murmur of distant voices was heard.
Earlier, after the King’s address at the opening of parliament, he went on a brief walkabout with his wife en route to the memorial, clutching the hands of well-wishers and sharing a few words of greeting in the brilliant summer sunshine.
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