What is a throne speech? Why King Charles will deliver just Canada's third one by a reigning monarch
King Charles will visit Canada to deliver the throne speech on May 27. This will be the first time a reigning monarch delivers the speech in Canada since 1977.
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The visit will mark the King's 20th trip to Canada. The last visit was in May 2022. Queen Camilla will also be in attendance.
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According to the Government of Canada, the speech is read every time a new session of Parliament is opened. It introduces the government's direction and goals with a layout of how they plan to achieve them. In Canada, it is usually read by the Governor General, who is the representative of the monarch.
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The speech has only been read by Canada's head of state two times before; here's what each moment was like.
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Queen Elizabeth II addressed Canada twice over her 70-year-long reign as monarch. The first time was on Oct. 14, 1957. It was the Queen's first visit to Canada as the reigning monarch and the first time a monarch opened Parliament in Canada. Although, her visit was short, only four days.
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The speech was televised as then prime minister John Diefenbaker wanted the event to be shared across the country.
According to the Diefenbakers Canada Centre website, it was the first time that cameras had appeared in the House of Commons. Maclean's reported at the time that the National Film Board brought in strong lights for the filming of a documentary about the tour and blew all the fuses in the House of Commons, leading to a power outage for about five minutes.
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'CBC technicians wept when power was restored, with 55 seconds to go,' before the Queen's speech, Maclean's reported.
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'For the first time, the representatives of the people of Canada and their Sovereign are here assembled on the occasion of the opening of Parliament,' the Queen's speech began. 'This is for all of us a moment to remember.'
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QUEEN ELIZABETH —1977
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The second time Queen Elizabeth II addressed Canada, and the most recent throne speech given by a monarch occurred on Oct. 18, 1977.
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This address was a part of the Silver Jubilee tour, in honour of the monarch's 25th anniversary as Queen.
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The event occurred while then prime minister Pierre Trudeau was in office, at a time when some of the members of Parliament were supporting the elimination of the monarchy. The Queen's visit was five days long, limited by Ottawa as much of the government did not want to celebrate the Queen's Jubilee. According to Journalist Michael Jackson's book: The Crown and Canadian Federalism, the government 'grudgingly' agreed and 'arranged a short visit to Ottawa.'
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Both Trudeau and Queen Elizabeth II addressed the country in both French and English, attempting to support more unity in Canada at a time when the country was dealing with the Quebec separatist movement.
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During the English portion of the speech, the Queen addressed this topic. 'What is most evident in looking at your country from the long-term view is that Canada's accomplishments and progress have, from the first moment, been the results of the joint efforts and joint councils of Canadians of every background,' the Queen said.
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