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Charles' visit to Canada to begin with celebration of country's culture and diversity

Charles' visit to Canada to begin with celebration of country's culture and diversity

During their two-day trip, Charles will become only the second monarch, after Queen Elizabeth II, to attend the state opening of Canada's parliament and deliver the speech setting out the government's legislative agenda.
Charles will be delivering the words of the Canadian government, similar to a UK State opening of parliament, but commentators will be looking for any veiled references to US President Donald Trump.
The King will be travelling with his wife less than a month after former Bank of England governor Mark Carney's Liberal Party election victory, fuelled in part by its opposition to the US leader.
Mr Carney's rival, populist Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre, was in the lead until Mr Trump took aim at Canada with a trade war and threats to annex the country as the 51st state, comments denounced by the ex-governor.
Mark Carney became Canadian prime minister recently (Yui Mok/PA)
A Buckingham Palace spokesperson commenting about the trip has said: 'The King and Queen are very much looking forward to the programme, mindful that it is a short visit but hopefully an impactful one.'
The visit begins with the King and his wife celebrating the country's cultural heritage and diversity at a community event in the capital Ottawa at Lansdowne Park.
Later that day, the King will hold audiences with Canada's first indigenous Governor General Mary Simon, the King's representative in Canada, Prime Minister Mr Carney and there will be a short ceremony to swear in Camilla as a member of the Canadian Privy Council.
Events will conclude for Charles and Camilla with a short reception for lieutenant governors, from Canada's 10 Canadian provinces, and the territorial commissioners from the three territories.
The centrepiece of the trip falls on Tuesday when the royal couple will attend the state opening of parliament, similar to the UK parliament's opening ceremony but without the formality or royal regalia found in Britain.
The late queen was the first sovereign to deliver the speech at the state opening of the Canadian parliament on October 1957, her first visit to the country as head of state.
Steven Guilbeault, Canada's minister of identity and culture, said: 'His Majesty's delivery of the Speech from the Throne to open the 45th Parliament is a momentous occasion, one that brings Canadians together in celebration of our rich history, our democracy and the institutions that serve us all.
'This visit offers an opportunity to showcase the special relationship between Canada and the Crown, while also highlighting the strength, diversity and unity that define us on the world stage.'

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SNP ministers accused of secrecy over £2m Grangemouth carbon capture study
SNP ministers accused of secrecy over £2m Grangemouth carbon capture study

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  • Scotsman

SNP ministers accused of secrecy over £2m Grangemouth carbon capture study

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Tim Wilson says Coalition won't revisit ban on working from home as ‘happy workers' are more productive
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The Guardian

time29 minutes ago

  • The Guardian

Tim Wilson says Coalition won't revisit ban on working from home as ‘happy workers' are more productive

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Reform launches attack on the Bank of England
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It is no coincidence that commercial bank profits have soared as interest rates rose as the Bank of England paid out tens of billions of this voluntary interest. Those institutions cannot believe their luck.' Catherine Mann, a member of the Bank's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) that sets interest rates, has also warned that policymakers must pay closer attention to the impact of QT on financial markets and the wider economy now that it is cutting interest rates. She estimated that QT could raise borrowing costs by almost a quarter of a percentage point. Mr Bailey has repeatedly spoken out against changing the way commercial lenders are compensated for parking their cash at the Bank, warning that it could undermine financial and monetary stability if lenders no longer wished to hold extra buffers at the Bank. In a letter to the Treasury select committee in April, Mr Bailey said: 'Remuneration of reserves is a key component of the Bank's approach to ensuring rate control. 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