King Charles III's visit to Canada: Live updates, itinerary as monarch and Queen Camilla kick off tour in Ottawa

Yahoo

4 days ago

King Charles and Queen Camila's visit to Canada will last two days, May 26 and May 27. The significant — but brief — trip will be Charles' first since becoming King and his 20th overall.
Charles and Camila are expected to land in Ottawa in the early afternoon on Monday. The royal duo's visit will culminate with King Charles delivering the throne speech on Tuesday.
"This historic honour matches the weight of our times," Prime Minister Mark Carney said earlier this month. Charles will deliver the speech from the throne as threats from U.S. President Donald Trump calling for Canada to become the 51st state continue.
One expert told Yahoo Canada the royal visit is as much symbolic as it is a message to Trump.
Yahoo Canada will cover King Charles' visit to Canada as he and Queen Camila arrive, attend public events in and around Ottawa, and depart on Tuesday afternoon.
King Charles III is more than just the British Royal Family monarch and Canada's Head of State. The 76-year-old is a husband, father, grandfather and patron to more than 400 charities.
From his passion for the environment to his love of painting, keep reading to learn everything you've ever wanted to know about the King — including his parenting style, hobbies and star sign.
Show me more King Charles facts.
In February 2024, Buckingham Palace announced King Charles began treatment after being diagnosed with cancer. A statement read that King Charles had 'been advised by doctors to postpone public-facing duties.' King Charles resumed official royal duties in April 2024 and has been continuing his cancer treatment for more than a year now.
King Charles held a reception at Buckingham Palace last month for organizations that raise cancer awareness. In a statement beforehand, King Charles reflected on his own cancer diagnosis: 'Each diagnosis, each new case, will be a daunting and at times frightening experience for those individuals and their loved ones.'
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has released a statement ahead of the visit to Ottawa by King Charles III and Queen Camilla.
"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," Carney said in the statement.
Carney noted that Tuesday's throne speech, usually delivered by the Governor General but exceptionally and historically will be delivered by King Charles, will outline the government's plan "to define a new economic and security relationship with the United States, to build the strongest economy in the G7, to bring down the cost of living, and to keep communities safe."
When King Charles does it, it will be only the third time in history a monarch has delivered the speech from the throne to open a new session of Parliament. Queen Elizabeth did it twice, in 1957 and 1977, her Silver Jubilee.
The speech from the throne, or throne speech, is usually delivered by the Governor General to open a session of Parliament. Though the speech outlines a government's direction and goals, King Charles' address is unlikely to veer into political territory or comment on tariffs and U.S. President Donald Trump.
One expert told the BBC the King's presence could be significant enough, as Trump "has a lot of admiration for the monarchy. He is impressed by the royals."
Royal visits are a spectacle — especially when it comes to fashion. It's not uncommon for members of the Royal Family to practise diplomatic dressing when travelling to show respect to their host country.
Royals have shown their love for Canada in many ways, but their favourite way might be through their clothes. We've dug through the archives to share the creative ways royals like Queen Elizabeth II, Princess Diana and Catherine, Princess of Wales have paid tribute to Canada in the past.
See the full list here
King Charles and Queen Camilla's royal visit to Ottawa is more than just ceremonial, according to two experts who are closely watching the couple's trip to the nation's capital.
Former CBC Radio managing editor Jeffrey Dvorkin — an expert on public interest in the royal family in Canada — and constitutional expert Errol Mendes, believe the trip sends a message to Washington and serves as a reminder to Canadians.
'This is as much about sending a message to the Trump White House as it is to announce that a new prime minister is in charge,' Dvorkin told Yahoo News Canada.
'It is a sign that Canada is starting to limit its connections to the United States,' he added.
Mendes, an expert on Canada's relationship with the Crown as a constitutional monarchy, agrees the visit signals a deliberate pivot by Prime Minister Mark Carney at a time when tensions run high with the United States.
Mendes views the royal presence in Ottawa as a 'signal to Trump that Canada could never be for sale,' and a push by Carney to reinforce Canada's identity as a sovereign state which will seek alliances far beyond its southern neighbour, should it come to that.
Tradition meets political symbolism
It is a tradition for the monarch to remain politically neutral in his throne speech, despite the above motive behind inviting the King and Queen to Ottawa.
However, as Mendes told Yahoo News Canada, 'the King may surprise us by stating in a couched manner that Canada's legal and soft power moral standing makes it impossible to be owned by any other nation as his mother and father did in the past.'
A civics lesson, too
For Dvorkin, the royal visit will also act as a reminder of Canada's democratic institutions to Canadians.
'Many Canadians, especially young Canadians, don't really know much about how government works,' he said, highlighting a civic gap the monarchy's visit might help spotlight.
While his May 2025 visit to Canada is his first as King, Charles has visited Canada on official royal duties 19 times, most recently in May 2022 as part of his mother's, Queen Elizabeth, Platinum Jubilee. King Charles' visit to Canada in 2025 will be his 20th.
Because he was only Prince at the time, the last visit by the sovereign dates back to 2010, when Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip's tour to Canada included stops in Nova Scotia, Manitoba and Ontario.
His first-ever tour as prince dates back to July 1970. He toured Ottawa before joining his family — Queen Elizabeth, the Duke of Edinburgh and Princess Anne — who were on an official trip to Manitoba. The province was celebrating the centennial of its entry into Confederation.
Prince Charles and Diana, Princess of Wales, were joined by their sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, in Toronto in October 1991.
In 2022, part of a royal tour celebrating Queen Elizabeth's Platinum Jubilee, the then-Prince Charles and Camilla's three-day tour of Canada included stops in Northwest Territories, Newfound and Labrador, and Ottawa.
A detailed itinerary of King Charles and Queen Camila's two-day visit to Canada has been released.
The couple is scheduled to land in Ottawa in the early afternoon of Monday, May 26.
At 1:50 p.m. King Charles and Queen Camila are expected at a public event in Landsdowne Park where they will visit a farmers market.
The event ends with the King dropping the puck for a road hockey game. This event is open to the public.
At 2:50 p.m., King Charles and Queen Camila will travel to Rideau Hall, the monarchs' residence while they are visiting Canada. King Charles will attend a tree planting ceremony. This event is open to the public.
King Charles will then hold audiences with the Governor General of Canada, Mary Simon, followed by Prime Minister Mark Carney, both at Rideau Hall.
On Tuesday May 27, King Charles and Queen Camila will travel to the Senate of Canada building at 9:50 a.m. This event is open to the public. The couple will be carried in Canada's State Landau by horses of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police on Wellington St.
They will arrive at the Senate building by 10:15 a.m., greeted by a 21-gun salute. This event is open to the public.
At 11 a.m., King Charles will open the 45th Parliament with the speech from the throne, which is usually delivered by the Governor General. This speech opens every new session of Parliament.
While details of the speech have not been made public, Buckingham Palace revealed King Charles' speech from the throne will be non-political and he will not comment on Trump's call to make Canada the 51st state.
King Charles III is more than just the British Royal Family monarch and Canada's Head of State. The 76-year-old is a husband, father, grandfather and patron to more than 400 charities.
From his passion for the environment to his love of painting, keep reading to learn everything you've ever wanted to know about the King — including his parenting style, hobbies and star sign.
Show me more King Charles facts.
In February 2024, Buckingham Palace announced King Charles began treatment after being diagnosed with cancer. A statement read that King Charles had 'been advised by doctors to postpone public-facing duties.' King Charles resumed official royal duties in April 2024 and has been continuing his cancer treatment for more than a year now.
King Charles held a reception at Buckingham Palace last month for organizations that raise cancer awareness. In a statement beforehand, King Charles reflected on his own cancer diagnosis: 'Each diagnosis, each new case, will be a daunting and at times frightening experience for those individuals and their loved ones.'
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has released a statement ahead of the visit to Ottawa by King Charles III and Queen Camilla.
"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," Carney said in the statement.
Carney noted that Tuesday's throne speech, usually delivered by the Governor General but exceptionally and historically will be delivered by King Charles, will outline the government's plan "to define a new economic and security relationship with the United States, to build the strongest economy in the G7, to bring down the cost of living, and to keep communities safe."
When King Charles does it, it will be only the third time in history a monarch has delivered the speech from the throne to open a new session of Parliament. Queen Elizabeth did it twice, in 1957 and 1977, her Silver Jubilee.
The speech from the throne, or throne speech, is usually delivered by the Governor General to open a session of Parliament. Though the speech outlines a government's direction and goals, King Charles' address is unlikely to veer into political territory or comment on tariffs and U.S. President Donald Trump.
One expert told the BBC the King's presence could be significant enough, as Trump "has a lot of admiration for the monarchy. He is impressed by the royals."
Royal visits are a spectacle — especially when it comes to fashion. It's not uncommon for members of the Royal Family to practise diplomatic dressing when travelling to show respect to their host country.
Royals have shown their love for Canada in many ways, but their favourite way might be through their clothes. We've dug through the archives to share the creative ways royals like Queen Elizabeth II, Princess Diana and Catherine, Princess of Wales have paid tribute to Canada in the past.
See the full list here
King Charles and Queen Camilla's royal visit to Ottawa is more than just ceremonial, according to two experts who are closely watching the couple's trip to the nation's capital.
Former CBC Radio managing editor Jeffrey Dvorkin — an expert on public interest in the royal family in Canada — and constitutional expert Errol Mendes, believe the trip sends a message to Washington and serves as a reminder to Canadians.
'This is as much about sending a message to the Trump White House as it is to announce that a new prime minister is in charge,' Dvorkin told Yahoo News Canada.
'It is a sign that Canada is starting to limit its connections to the United States,' he added.
Mendes, an expert on Canada's relationship with the Crown as a constitutional monarchy, agrees the visit signals a deliberate pivot by Prime Minister Mark Carney at a time when tensions run high with the United States.
Mendes views the royal presence in Ottawa as a 'signal to Trump that Canada could never be for sale,' and a push by Carney to reinforce Canada's identity as a sovereign state which will seek alliances far beyond its southern neighbour, should it come to that.
Tradition meets political symbolism
It is a tradition for the monarch to remain politically neutral in his throne speech, despite the above motive behind inviting the King and Queen to Ottawa.
However, as Mendes told Yahoo News Canada, 'the King may surprise us by stating in a couched manner that Canada's legal and soft power moral standing makes it impossible to be owned by any other nation as his mother and father did in the past.'
A civics lesson, too
For Dvorkin, the royal visit will also act as a reminder of Canada's democratic institutions to Canadians.
'Many Canadians, especially young Canadians, don't really know much about how government works,' he said, highlighting a civic gap the monarchy's visit might help spotlight.
While his May 2025 visit to Canada is his first as King, Charles has visited Canada on official royal duties 19 times, most recently in May 2022 as part of his mother's, Queen Elizabeth, Platinum Jubilee. King Charles' visit to Canada in 2025 will be his 20th.
Because he was only Prince at the time, the last visit by the sovereign dates back to 2010, when Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip's tour to Canada included stops in Nova Scotia, Manitoba and Ontario.
His first-ever tour as prince dates back to July 1970. He toured Ottawa before joining his family — Queen Elizabeth, the Duke of Edinburgh and Princess Anne — who were on an official trip to Manitoba. The province was celebrating the centennial of its entry into Confederation.
Prince Charles and Diana, Princess of Wales, were joined by their sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, in Toronto in October 1991.
In 2022, part of a royal tour celebrating Queen Elizabeth's Platinum Jubilee, the then-Prince Charles and Camilla's three-day tour of Canada included stops in Northwest Territories, Newfound and Labrador, and Ottawa.
A detailed itinerary of King Charles and Queen Camila's two-day visit to Canada has been released.
The couple is scheduled to land in Ottawa in the early afternoon of Monday, May 26.
At 1:50 p.m. King Charles and Queen Camila are expected at a public event in Landsdowne Park where they will visit a farmers market.
The event ends with the King dropping the puck for a road hockey game. This event is open to the public.
At 2:50 p.m., King Charles and Queen Camila will travel to Rideau Hall, the monarchs' residence while they are visiting Canada. King Charles will attend a tree planting ceremony. This event is open to the public.
King Charles will then hold audiences with the Governor General of Canada, Mary Simon, followed by Prime Minister Mark Carney, both at Rideau Hall.
On Tuesday May 27, King Charles and Queen Camila will travel to the Senate of Canada building at 9:50 a.m. This event is open to the public. The couple will be carried in Canada's State Landau by horses of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police on Wellington St.
They will arrive at the Senate building by 10:15 a.m., greeted by a 21-gun salute. This event is open to the public.
At 11 a.m., King Charles will open the 45th Parliament with the speech from the throne, which is usually delivered by the Governor General. This speech opens every new session of Parliament.
While details of the speech have not been made public, Buckingham Palace revealed King Charles' speech from the throne will be non-political and he will not comment on Trump's call to make Canada the 51st state.