![\"President](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/\/7fa1a475-d1ab-4e34-a1a7-8182f7b0eab9.jpg\")
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Canadians have come together in opposition to taunts from President Trump<\/p>\n
KEVIN LAMARQUE\/REUTERS<\/p>\n
It is understood that Mark Carney<\/a>, Canada\u2019s newly elected prime minister, invited the King to open the country\u2019s 45th parliament six weeks ago. The King immediately agreed and weeks of careful deliberation followed between the Palace and the Canadian government over what would be included in his speech.<\/p>\n While the speech<\/a> was drafted by government officials, the Palace cast a constitutional lens over the address. A senior Palace source said: \u201cIt was designed to be thought-provoking, not provocative.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s all about commending what is positive. And that\u2019s what the sovereign does \u2014 it\u2019s not the sovereign\u2019s job to start pointing fingers.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat 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\u2019t show support?\u201d<\/p>\n Charles spoke at length about the sovereignty of Canada, mentioned its unique \u201cidentity\u201d four times and his voice appeared to falter with emotion when he concluded: \u201cAs the anthem reminds us: the true north is indeed strong and free.\u201d<\/p>\n In recent weeks, it is understood that sections of Canadian society that were previously at odds have come together in opposition to the rhetoric from Trump.<\/p>\n Trump was not mentioned by name in the King<\/a>\u2019s speech and the only reference to the US was one that spoke of building \u201ca new relationship\u201d based on \u201cmutual respect\u201d and \u201ccommon interest\u201d.<\/p>\n Mark Carney, the Canadian prime minister, and Charles before the speech<\/p>\n CHRIS YOUNG\/AP<\/p>\n As well as threats to Canada\u2019s sovereignty to the south, there are threats from the north. It is understood that the speech was deliberately crafted to refer to China\u2019s operations in the Arctic.<\/p>\n China\u2019s coastguard, in a joint patrol with Russian forces, entered the Arctic for the first time in October. The two countries have also staged military exercises in the region.<\/p>\n While China was not mentioned directly, its operations in the Arctic inspired a line that the Canadian government \u201cwill invest to strengthen its presence in the north, which is an integral part of Canada, as this region faces new threats\u201d.<\/p>\n The King was \u201cvery touched\u201d by the reception from Canadians<\/a>, a senior royal aide said, adding: \u201cTo go to a realm of which you are King, but in which you don\u2019t actually live, is a big thing when you do it for the first time, as we saw in both Australia and now Canada.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is a reset of that relationship, and for Their Majesties to see so many people turn out and to be so thrilled to see them was fantastic. As the King put it in his departure message that came straight from the heart: \u2018It was the warmest of welcomes and the fondest of returns to a nation and a people we love.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n The King and Queen were welcomed at Ottawa airport on Monday<\/p>\n VICTORIA JONES\/PA<\/p>\n For Charles, the first visit to the country as monarch represented a milestone in his reign: the last of the big \u201cfirsts\u201d since acceding the throne. Canada<\/a> is considered to be the \u201csenior realm\u201d because it was the first to adopt the procedures of a Commonwealth country that recognises the monarch as its head of state.<\/p>\n After the ill health in the royal family, Palace aides are establishing what \u201cbusiness as usual\u201d looks like in the Carolean age.<\/p>\n A senior royal aide said: \u201cAlmost three years on, everyone has a clear impression of what that is and the role that he will play \u2014 one that is both traditional for the monarchy and distinct to His Majesty. Leveraging on the long relationships he has built over the years, he has enhanced his role as a global statesman on so many issues, wielding soft power to the benefit of all the realms and Commonwealth nations at a time of great international challenge.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"Prime](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/\/1d7c9362-bcc7-461a-b915-5a43f56cc7a1.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"King](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/\/271b157f-714f-455a-8d2d-2771532dcf68.jpg\")
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