bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

hooksAmpRedirectArticle

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

paywallTypes

createdDate

publishedDate

sponsorType

urlAlias

moreOnThisArticles

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

articleSpeeches

socialHeadline

headline

images

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

sponsor

pdfFiles

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

Agence France-Presse

Britain’s King Charles hailed Canada as “strong and free” as he delivered a major speech to open parliament in Ottawa against the backdrop of US President Donald Trump’s threats to take over the country.
“Democracy, pluralism, the rule of law, self-determination, and freedom are values which Canadians hold dear, and ones which the government is determined to protect,” King Charles said, adding that Canada was facing a “critical moment”.
To loud applause, he drew on the national anthem as he said “the true north is indeed strong and free!”
Prime Minister Mark Carney invited the 76-year-old British monarch – Canada’s head of state as it is a Commonwealth member – to the capital, accompanied by Queen Camilla.

The king has never publicly commented on Trump’s repeated talk of making Canada the 51st US state, but his language was closely watched for veiled references.
Although the speech was read by the king as if it were his own words, it was written by the prime minister’s office to set out the government’s priorities to “build Canada strong” and how it aimed to achieve them.
In addition to his annexation threats, Trump has also launched tariff wars, particularly targeting Canada.
“The system of open global trade that, while not perfect, has helped to deliver prosperity for Canadians for decades, is changing,” Charles said, in cautious words.
“We must be clear-eyed: the world is a more dangerous and uncertain place than at any point since the Second World War.”
Not to be outdone, Trump on Tuesday posted on his TruthSocial platform about annexing Canada – eliding mention of King Charles – by offering protection from his proposed “Golden Dome” missile defence system.

“I told Canada, which very much wants to be part of our fabulous Golden Dome System, that it will cost $61 Billion Dollars if they remain a separate, but unequal, Nation, but will cost ZERO DOLLARS if they become our cherished 51st State,” Trump said, adding: “They are considering the offer!”
There was no immediate response from Canada to Trump’s claims.
The speech was delivered in the Senate – a former railway station that has been converted while parliament undergoes renovations – with past prime ministers, Supreme Court justices and Indigenous leaders in feather headdresses there.
“You see the enthusiasm for our institutions,” Carney told reporters, pointing to cheering crowds that awaited the king. “Our sovereignty is strong.”
King Charles’ “speech from the throne” was the first by a monarch in nearly half a century. It was delivered by Charles’ mother, the late Queen Elizabeth, in 1957 and 1977.
“In terms of symbolism, it’s extraordinary,” said Felix Mathieu, a politics professor at the University of Quebec in Outaouais.

Tuesday’s event, Mathieu said, was a message to Trump to show him that “Canada is not alone in this fight”.
Carney has vowed to oversee the biggest transformation of Canada’s economy since the end of the Second World War to enable it to “stand up” to Trump.
Charles said in the speech that Canada would also “build new alliances” and seek out “reliable trading partners and allies around the world”, while reinvesting in its military and Arctic defence.
“Canada is ready to build a coalition of like-minded countries that share its values, that believe in international cooperation and the free and open exchange of goods, services, and ideas,” he said.
Thousands gathered along a parade route for a chance to see the monarch arriving in a carriage escorted by Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers on horseback.
The atmosphere was festive, with people waving Canadian flags, a 21-gun salute and a fighter jet flyover. The king stopped several times to speak with people along a security fence before and after his speech.
Canada is one of 15 countries where Charles is monarch. A poll from the non-profit Angus Reid Institute released on Tuesday showed 83 per cent of Canadians say they were indifferent or did not care about the visit.
Additional reporting by Associated Press and Reuters


Canada’s Carney, opposition leader hold hands during school shooting vigil

Meet Paul Anthony Kelly, who plays John F. Kennedy Jr in Ryan Murphy’s Love Story

Takaichi’s anti-China stance won’t bolster Japan’s security

Will tourism slump force Trump to rethink his unilateral approach?

Canada

UK’s King Charles hails ‘strong and free’ Canada as Trump threatens annexation

Britain’s King Charles delivers the speech from the throne in the Senate in Ottawa. Photo: The Canadian Press via AP

King Charles and Queen Camilla open the first session of the 45th parliament of Canada. Photo: Reuters

Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney applauds King Charles. Photo: Reuters

Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) officer stands guard as King Charles and Queen Camilla attend a wreath-laying ceremony. Photo: Reuters

Canada welcomes UK’s King Charles after Trump takeover threats

Britain’s King Charles and Queen Camilla arrive for a state visit on Monday. Photo: EPA-EFE

Britain’s King Charles meets with Prime Minister of Canada Mark Carney. Photo: Reuters

Britain’s King Charles raises a shovel after a ceremonial tree planting. Photo: Reuters

Canada has ‘nearly zero’ tariffs on US goods? Not true, finance minister says

Francois-Philippe Champagne arrives to be sworn in as Minister of Finance and National Revenue on Tuesday. Photo: Reuters

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney after his swearing-in ceremony on Tuesday. He campaigned in the recent election as the best candidate to handle the trade war. Photo: Getty Images via AFP

Canada’s Mark Carney forms new cabinet to reshape ties with US

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney delivers a press conference at Rideau Hall after his cabinet’s swearing-in ceremony on Tuesday. Photo: AFP

Anita Anand is sworn in as Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs in Ottawa on Tuesday. Photo: Reuters

New faces in Carney’s cabinet raise hopes of reset in India-Canada ties

Anita Anand swears in as Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs at Rideau Hall in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, on May 13. She is one of four Indian-origin politicians in the new Canadian government. Photo: Reuters

Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney outside Rideau Hall in Ottawa on May 13. Expectations are growing that Carney could bring a more pragmatic approach to foreign policy. Photo: Reuters

A photograph of late temple president Hardeep Singh Nijjar (back right) is displayed outside the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara Sahib, in Surrey, British Columbia, in October 2024. Photo: The Canadian Press via AP

Trump meets new Canadian PM, who tells him Canada is not for sale

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office at the White House on Tuesday. Photo:  EPA-EFE

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in Washington on Tuesday. Photo: AFP

The Ambassador Bridge border crossing between Windsor, Ontario, Canada, and Detroit, Michigan. Photo: AFP

News

World

United States & Canada

The British royal’s ‘speech from the throne’ was the first by a monarch in nearly half a century


The British royal’s ‘speech from the throne’ was the first by a monarch in nearly half a century.


UK’s King Charles hails ‘strong and free’ Canada as Trump threatens annexation

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}The British royal’s ‘speech from the throne’ was the first by a monarch in nearly half a century

The British royal’s ‘speech from the throne’ was the first by a monarch in nearly half a century