29-05-2025
King touched by Canadian welcome and is learning to 'live life' with cancer
'It was the warmest of welcomes and the fondest of returns to a nation and a people we love.'
That was the message posted by Buckingham Palace after the King of Canada left the country, which he has now visited 20 times - but just once as monarch.
A senior royal aide said King Charles and Queen Camilla were "very touched" by the reception they received in a realm in which they don't actually live.
And yet it was an unusually forlorn-looking King, some might even say emotional, who had stood outside the Canadian Senate and then formally opened the new session of parliament, with a slight crack in his voice as he finished.
Royals don't normally 'do' emotion, at least they do their very best to hide whatever feeling they have.
But for some reason, King Charles seemed unable to do that on this occasion at the end of a short, but highly significant, visit.
His mother, Queen Elizabeth, had made the same speech from the throne in 1957 when she came to Ottawa on her first visit as Queen of Canada.
But King Charles is, by now, used to checking off 'firsts': first State Visit overseas, first visit to a realm, first Trooping the Colour, first Christmas broadcast...
So, what happened on his first visit to Canada as King, that appeared to move him?
Perhaps, as head of state of a country he loves so much, he's observed with some concern the unsettling threats from Donald Trump to make Canada the 51st State of the USA.
As Canada's monarch, he will have regular of conversations with the new Prime Minister, Mark Carney, the Governor General (his representative in a Commonwealth Realm), and the leaders of Canada's indigenous communities – the First Nations, Inuit and Métis.
Through those connections, Charles will have a better sense than many on our side of the Atlantic of how vulnerable Donald Trump's rhetoric has made them feel.
We saw how Liberal leader Mark Carney turned around his party's fortunes in the general election campaign, which he went on to win, by spending much of his time opposing President Trump.
The new tariffs between these two North American economies have disrupted trade and relations across the border.
"Fear has united us," some crowds told me as they gathered outside the Canadian Senate before the arrival of King Charles and Queen Camilla.
For them, the King had "without doubt" come to support the sovereignty and independence of Canada.
Senior courtiers acknowledge that this is a "time of great international challenge".
Mr Trump is back in the White House, defence alliances are being strained across the western world and support for Ukraine is seemingly not an American priority anymore.
The royal source added: "What the king was able to do was show very strong support for Canada and what would be the point of being King of Canada if you didn't show support?"
King Charles did not mention Donald Trump by name, but MPs and Senators when he re-worked the well-known phrase from the Canadian national anthem, and said in his speech: "The True North is indeed strong and free".
"It's all about commending what is positive," said one of the King's senior aides. "And that's what the sovereign does, it's not the sovereign's job to start pointing fingers."
So, what about the King's cancer diagnosis?
He has kept up a punishing schedule in recent months (this week's trip to Canada and recent tours to Australia being two good examples) despite the 76-year old's ongoing treatment.
"He has dealt with his illness in a very human way and the way he's engaging with the public at a very human level," the palace source said.
"I think we now have a clear idea of what the Carolean age looks like and what it stands for - now and hopefully for many years to come.
"The thing you learn about this illness [cancer] is that you just manage it - and that's what he does. The medical science has made incredible advances, and I genuinely see no difference in him."
It means the King simply follows doctors' orders, keeps fit and has his treatment when he needs it.
But given his strong sense of duty and a commitment to work that even Queen Camilla cannot stop, those around him simply try to lighten the load where they can.
