King says 'strong and free' Canada is a force for good in historic throne speech

CBC

6 days ago

Charles says he's heartened to see revival of 'national pride, unity and hope' in Canada
King Charles delivered a historic speech from the throne Tuesday and he used that platform to praise Canada as a force for good that will remain "strong and free" as its relationships with longtime partners are "changing."
Charles, who delivered the speech while seated next to Queen Camilla in the Senate, the royal chamber, laid out the new Liberal government's agenda for the parliamentary session ahead but also subtly addressed the issue that's on the minds of many Canadians in the portion of the speech that he himself crafted: U.S. President Donald Trump, his tariffs and the 51st state taunts.
"When my dear late mother addressed your predecessors seven decades ago, she said that in that age, and against the backdrop of international affairs, no nation could live unto itself," Charles said, referencing Queen Elizabeth's 1957 throne speech to Parliament.
"It is a source of great pride that, in the following decades, Canada has continued to set an example to the world in her conduct and values, as a force for good," he said. "As the anthem reminds us: The True North is indeed strong and free!"
Charles, who prominently wore an Order of Canada medal around his neck for the occasion, noted that he's witnessed a renewal of "national pride, unity and hope" in Canada in recent weeks and he has "the greatest admiration for Canada's unique identity," which he said is known the world over for bravery, sacrifice, diversity and kindness.
"Every time I come to Canada a little more of Canada seeps into my bloodstream — and from there straight to my heart," the head of state said.
This is only the third time in the country's history that a monarch has delivered the throne speech, which must be read before the House of Commons or the Senate can go ahead with any of its legislative business. In addition to her 1957 address, the Queen delivered one in 1977 — nearly 50 years ago.
Charles is here at Prime Minister Mark Carney's request, an invitation the head of government has framed as a way to assert Canada's sovereignty as a constitutional monarchy founded by the British, French and Indigenous Peoples — a place that's inherently quite different from the republic to the south.
Charles is enjoying something of a revival in Canada, with polls suggesting his popularity has soared and a majority of people now support maintaining ties to the Crown in the wake of Trump's annexationist musings.
The King nodded to the stability the institution provides in a tumultuous era.
"The Crown has for so long been a symbol of unity for Canada. It also represents stability and continuity from the past to the present. As it should. It stands proudly as a symbol of Canada today, in all her richness and dynamism," he said, as senators, MPs, former prime ministers Justin Trudeau, Stephen Harper and Kim Campbell, Supreme Court justices, senior military officials and Indigenous leaders, among others, looked on in a packed Red Chamber.
In the portion of the speech written by Carney and his team, Charles said Canada's relationship with the U.S. is changing and the country is facing "unprecedented challenges."
"Many Canadians are feeling anxious and worried about the drastically changing world around them. Fundamental change is always unsettling. Yet this moment is also an incredible opportunity. An opportunity for renewal. An opportunity to think big and to act bigger. An opportunity for Canada to embark on the largest transformation of its economy since the Second World War," Charles said.
"Canadians can give themselves far more than any foreign power on any continent can ever take away. And that by staying true to Canadian values, Canada can build new alliances and a new economy that serves all Canadians," the monarch said.
In addition to a commitment to reassess the longstanding Canada-U.S. relationship, Charles said the government will be seized with other matters: building a more affordable Canada by cutting income taxes and the GST on homes for first-time buyers, knocking down internal trade barriers to promote free trade in Canada, fast-tracking projects of national significance — there will be a new, federal "major project office" to get them through — and building a safer, more secure country by toughening the border and hiring more police officers to tamp down on crime.
Carney's government is also promising to "rebuild the trust of Canadians in immigration by restoring balance to the system" and promote Indigenous reconciliation.
Speaking briefly to reporters after the speech, Carney said Tuesday's address was about highlighting and preserving "Canadian institutions" and it was "brilliantly" delivered by the King.
"Our sovereignty is strong," Carney said.
Thousands of people lined Wellington Street to see Charles and Camilla travel through the parliamentary precinct in Canada's royal landau to the Senate for the speech — easily one of the largest crowds for a royal visit in this country in years.
WATCH: King Charles and Queen Camilla parade to Parliament
Some people shouted "God save the King," "Thank you for coming, sir" and "We love you Charles," as he inspected the smartly dressed 100-member military guard of honour — the troops were from the 3rd Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment — that was assembled to greet him and Camilla, who was dressed in blue and wearing strands of pearls and a diamond-encrusted Queen's Own Rifles of Canada brooch. Camilla is the colonel-in-chief of that Toronto-based Canadian Armed Forces regiment.
The Royal Canadian Air Force band played O Canada as the crowd sang along and then clapped and cheered the royal party.
After leaving the Senate, a smiling and seemingly jovial Charles plunged into the crowd, personally shaking dozens of hands and greeting people along the rope line — some of whom started gathering in the early morning hours for a prime position to see the head of state on this historic occasion.
The King and Queen were greeted by a spontaneous rendition of God Save the King and repeated cheers of hip, hip hooray. The prime minister was shown some affection by the crowd with one man shouting, "We love you Carney!" as he accompanied Charles.
Image | Royal-Visit-Throne-Speech-Gallery 20
Caption: Queen Camilla is shown ahead of King Charles delivering the speech from the throne. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press)
Open Image in New Tab
In his last act of this two-day visit, Charles took in a bugler's rendition of Last Post and a bagpiper playing the Lament before laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Canada's National War Memorial — a recognition of Canada's military sacrifice in the world wars and other conflicts. The royal wreath was inscribed with a message: "In eternal memory, Charles."
Image | KING CHARLES THRONE SPEECH
Caption: King Charles and Queen Camilla took part in a wreath-laying ceremony at the National War Memorial in Ottawa after the throne speech. (Evan Mitsui/CBC)
Open Image in New Tab
Charles has done this many times on his past 19 visits to this country — members of the royal family rarely make a stop in Canada without some sort of acknowledgement of the country's military personnel, veterans and war dead. Indeed, in his speech, the King praised Canada's battlefield efforts on Juno Beach, at Dieppe, on the Somme, at Beaumont-Hamel, at Ypres and on Vimy Ridge.
The royal couple was then whisked away to the airport in an electric BMW sedan and not the American-made Lincoln town car that was used the last time they were in the nation's capital — a symbolic gesture as Canada grapples with Trump's auto tariffs.
John Fraser, the founding president of the Institute for the Study of the Crown in Canada, said Charles "was almost flawless in the way he handled everything, including getting a kiss from Margaret Trudeau," referencing the ex-prime minister's mother's breach of protocol when she gave the King a French double kiss on the cheeks.
Image | Royal Visit 20250527
Caption: The King and Queen spent time greeting onlookers after the throne speech. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press)
Open Image in New Tab
Fraser said the throne speech was a distinctly Canadian affair given just how informal it was at times, compared to what these events are like in the U.K. He noted you'd never see the monarch milling about, speaking to parliamentarians in the British House of Lords like Charles did today.
And unlike in the past, the Governor General was by Charles's side for much of the two-day visit. In the past, the viceregal would almost disappear when the monarch was on Canadian soil, Fraser said in an interview.
The dress code was also distinctly casual for some attendees — Justin Trudeau wore running shoes on the Senate floor; the guard of honour was outfitted with pith helmets, not the usual bearskin hats.
"The King established a record of easy informality despite all of the ceremony," Fraser said. "The formal business was mixed with an openness, and that's a good evolution for the Crown in Canada."
Fraser said he also thought Charles's Canadian sovereignty talk was "a lot stronger than I thought it would be. It was more muscular. I was expecting something anodine like, 'It's a lovely country with rolling hills.' No. And then, he threw in the national anthem at the end — it was an inspired choice. Trump may well have given the Crown in Canada a leg up."