‘We're not America': Thousands of Royal watchers descend on Ottawa for a chance to see King Charles
OTTAWA—According to retired lieutenant John Howie, U.S. President Donald Trump has given Canada a precious gift.
'Unfortunately, we have these tariffs, but it's the greatest thing that's ever happened. It has brought Canada together, stronger than anybody ever could imagine,' the 74-year-old military chaplain said, as he stood in front of the National War memorial waiting for King Charles to arrive for a wreath-laying ceremony.
King Charles laid a wreath at the National War Memorial in Ottawa, after delivering the government's speech from the throne. (May 27, 2025 / The Canadian Press)
Howie, the son of fish and chip shop owners who grew up in Scarborough, began his military career in 1967 as a member of the Queen's Own Rifles, the oldest continuously-serving infantry regiment in Canada, before eventually becoming a chaplain.
He met Charles for the first time during the 1976 Montreal Olympics, and again several times in the decades that followed. Howie, who skipped his seniors league golf tournament for the Royals' visit to the capital this week, said the King was one of the 'greatest' people he's ever met.
'We have a real king that's going to be here today, not a wannabe king,' said Howie, who politely declined to name the world leader to whom he was referring.
'I hope he's watching all of this to see the ethics of a real king.'
Indeed, Charles' 24-hour trip to Ottawa, his shortest-ever Canadian visit, produced an outpouring of reverence and support for both Canada and the King, as thousands who flocked to the capital's downtown in the unyielding sun turned to their monarch to reaffirm their identity.
King Charles III on Tuesday arrived at Canada's Senate building for the state opening of the country's parliament in Ottawa. Charles was set to outline new Prime Minister Mark Carney's government priorities in a speech in the Canadian Parliament. (AP Video / May 27, 2025)
'As the anthem reminds us: The True North is indeed strong and free,' the King said at the close of
his historic throne speech
, delivered inside the Senate late Tuesday morning.
Outside, royal-watchers climbed up lampposts and flagpoles in hopes of getting a better view. At times, onlookers' voices combined as one to sing the anthem, and eruptions of 'God save the King' and 'hip, hip, hooray' rent the air. Inside the offices and government buildings within the parliamentary precinct, people peered through their windows and construction workers halted their work to take in the proceedings.
Some even made new friends from across the country during the hours-long wait.
Antonella Floccari waited in front of the Senate Tuesday morning hoping to give King Charles and Queen Camilla a bouquet of flowers. She first met the Royals as a child in 1977, when Queen Elizabeth last delivered Canada's speech from the throne.
King Charles and Queen Camilla started the second day of their Canadian visit by travelling in Canada's state landau past crowds of admirers in front of Parliament Hill. (May 27, 2025 / The Canadian Press)
Asked if he was alone on Tuesday for the milestone moment, 14-year-old Konstantinos Karafotias, who travelled with his family all the way from Vancouver to see the King, chimed in.
'Not anymore,' he said, getting a laugh from Floccari.
'I have a new family!' she replied
A staunch monarchist from a young age, Karafotias said Charles' visit sent a strong message that Canada is a sovereign nation with the King as its head of state.
'I love the history, I love the culture, I love that they continue many traditions,' he said. 'Whatever race we are, whatever the city we come from, whatever place, whatever gender we are, we get to see the King and Queen, and they can unite us in so many ways.'
Until recently, Canadians had not held the Royals in such high esteem. A
new poll
showed last week that support for the monarchy was climbing, with 45 per cent of Canadians supporting remaining a constitutional monarchy, compared to 35 per cent three years ago.
Sylvia Bolingbroke and her son, Damien, drove all the way from Saskatchewan to see Charles and Camilla, and said it is Canada's constitutional monarchy that sets it apart from the U.S. and other nations.
'This family is the reason we have a democratic society here in Canada,' Sylvia said.
'That's where the base of political sovereignty, and you know, legitimacy comes from,' added Damien. 'It's the only way you can argue against republicans or separatists.'
King Charles III and Queen Camilla greeted crowds and met with community members at Landsdowne Park in Ottawa on Monday. (AP Video / May 27, 2025)
The desire to share the royal experience across generations emerged as a common thread on Tuesday.
Kim and Darien Long, a mother-daughter duo from Brantford, drove to Ottawa on Monday, found a 24-hour gas station, and slept in their car just for the chance to get close to the King.
It wasn't the first royal sighting for Kim, who was born in England and revelled in memories of seeing Queen Elizabeth and, in 1997, Princess Diana's funeral procession.
'I'm so happy that they did that speech today, that piece of history, and that we were here for that,' said Kim, who preferred not to comment on the political significance of the moment.
The pair were standing a few metres away from an onlooker who had affixed three large flags to a pole: an upside-down Canadian flag, a Trump 2024 flag, and an American flag with an image of a semi truck obscuring its stars and stripes.
But Darien wasn't worried about speaking her mind.
'We're not America. We're not going to be anytime soon. So why are we talking about (Trump) so much here?' the 26-year-old said, as two Union Jack flags stuck to her Canada-themed bucket hat bobbed in the wind.
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