King’s invitation to Canada sends Trump’s message

A decade ago, a portrait of the British monarch has caused a number of Canadian politics. Now the king is invited to speak out of the throne. What has changed?

In 2011, shortly after the formation of the conservative government of the majority, Prime Minister Stephen Harper caused national shock when he sought to emphasize Canada’s connection with the British monarchy. In one example, he replaced two works by artist Quebec in a portrait of the Queen.

Some reproached the gesture as not in connection with the modern time. Canada has sought to increase independence from the British monarchy throughout 157 years of history, remaining part of the Commonwealth.

When, four years later, the Prime Minister Liberal Justin Trudu reached Harper, the portrait of the Queen went down, the paintings of Quebec.

Fast forward to 2025, and a paradoxical shift took place in Canada’s relationship. In the transparent exhibition of sovereignty and independence of Canada from the threats of US President Donald Trump, Prime Minister Mark Carney – Liberal – invited King Charles III to open the 45th Parliament of Canada.

This step is a “huge confirmation and statement of Canada’s uniqueness and its traditions,” said Justin Wolf, the Canadian royal historian, said the BBC – “the theatrical display that is designed to show that it causes the Canadians separately from the Americans,” and not how Trump is often repeated.

Both countries are former British colonies, but the founders of America went down the way and tore all the official connections with the crown almost 250 years ago.

The Canada’s department of the monarchy was more gradual, and its connections have never been completely broken. Canada’s parliamentary system is modeled after the UK Westminster System. The British monarch is still officially the head of state, but their duties are often performed by their Canadian representative called the Governor General.

The loyalty to the Crown was considered as an important Canadian politicians in the 19th century who wanted to keep the branch from the US, said the Canadian royal historian and commentator Carolin Harris.

This later changed in the 1960s, when Quebec, most of the French province of Canada – began to claim its own personality and threaten the separation. This led to an era of politicians such as Leicester Bi Pearson and Pierre Elliot Trudu, who worked to unravel Canada from their British colonial past.

In 1982, Prime Minister Pierre Truda repatrically sent the Constitution of Canada, giving full legislative power to the federal government and provinces, and removing it from the British Parliament.

Ms Harris noted that Canada remained a constitutional monarchy throughout these periods. However, he fluctuated how much the Prime Minister -the day decided to accept this connection.

Mr. Vovk invites Karny to King Charles III that his government would be much more committed to the Crown, Mr. Wolf said, noting “a completely different tone” from previous liberals.

The British monarch has not made a speech to Canada since 1977 and has not opened a completely new session of the parliament since 1957, which made the King’s upcoming visit to the rare case.

This comes in the next time for Canada.

Karni agitated to withstand Trump, after the US president spent months, undermining Canada’s sovereignty, saying it would be better as the US state.

Trump also imposed a number of tariffs that threatened Canada’s economic stability, given that the US is its largest trading partner.

Announcing the visit last month, Carney called it “a historical pride that corresponds to the weight of our times.”

He added that the King’s visit “clearly emphasizes our country’s sovereignty.”

Both historians, Mr. Wolf and Mrs. Harris, noted that the bulk of Canada’s modern population is indifferent to the British monarchy. Some are even critical of this.

The coronation of King Charles III in 2023 gave way to fresh control of the historical cruel treatment of the crown people in Canada and the question of whether the new monarch would move to reconciliation.

Quebec politicians are also still calling for Canada to cut ties with the monarchy. On Friday, the Party of the separatist bloc in Quebec said it would again seek to deprive the elected officials to swear the king.

Mr. Wolf said some Canadians would be intrigued by the pompous and the theatrical representative of the King’s visit, but its main purpose is to send a political message from Canada to the world.

It is also a way for Prime Minister Carney to improve relations with Trump, which is known to be a supporter of the British monarchy and its history.

“The strengthening of relations with the monarchy puts a stamp on legitimacy, which is superior to individual parties, and the current political climate,” said Mr. “Politicians come and leave, but the monarchy has always remained.”

It is also working to tie Canada closer to Europe – the key purpose of Prime Minister Carney, a former governor of the Bank of England, who told about the need for Canada to find new allies when he moves his changing relations with the US.

The visit is also noticeable for the crown.

It will be the first king in Canada as a dominant monarch. He and the Queen intended to visit last year, but canceled their plans from the diagnosis of cancer.

The palace promised a speech of the throne that “will” be “a significant moment between the head of state and the Canadian people.”

And although it will be a short trip – the king and the queen will arrive on Monday morning and go on Tuesday night – the palace said he hoped the trip would be “impressive”.