History, national unity key themes as King Charles delivers throne speech
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OTTAWA – Seated in a brand-new throne and surrounded by Canadian dignitaries, King Charles opened Parliament Tuesday with a show of royal tradition.
On Tuesday morning, the King became the first reigning monarch to read a speech from the throne in Canada in nearly half a century.
In it, he proclaimed the “True North is indeed strong and free,” reaffirming Canada’s sovereignty while underscoring the “unprecedented” challenges the nation faces.
King Charles said that every time he visits, “a little more of Canada seeps into my bloodstream — and from there straight to my heart.”
The speech from the throne begins a new session of Parliament and is typically read by the governor general as the King’s representative in Canada. Written by the federal government, the speech lays out its priorities for the legislative session.
The King read portions of the speech in French.
King Charles is the first monarch ever to sit in the new throne designed for the Senate of Canada chamber. The throne includes the late Queen Elizabeth II’s cipher — a monogram that serves as a sovereign’s personal emblem — and incorporates a piece of English walnut from Windsor Great Park, a nod to King Charles.
The King sat next to Queen Camilla as he read the roughly 27-minute speech. Prime Minister Mark Carney and Gov. Gen. Mary Simon were among those guiding the King and Queen through the Red Chamber and making introductions.
Also present for the speech were former prime ministers Justin Trudeau and Stephen Harper — seated next to each other — and former governors general David Johnston, Michaëlle Jean and Adrienne Clarkson. Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre was also present, as were various provincial premiers.
The King and Queen started the second day of their Canadian visit this morning by travelling in Canada’s state landau past crowds of admirers in front of Parliament Hill.
The King wore a dark blue striped suit with the Order of Canada around his neck and his customary medal array. Next to him, the Queen was wearing a navy blue dress and hat.
They were joined by Simon and her husband Whit Fraser.
The landau was escorted down Wellington Street in Ottawa by mounted RCMP officers.
The King and Queen arrived shortly after 10 a.m. at the Senate building, where the King received full military honours and a 100-person honour guard from the 3rd Battalion of the Royal Canadian Regiment.
The ceremony included an inspection of the guard and band and a 21-gun salute.
Royal watchers gathered along the parade route shared mixed emotions ahead of the procession Tuesday.
Beth MacDonald, a royalist who attended King Charles’ coronation two years ago, said she makes a point of attending every royal event she can. This one has added significance, she said, because it’s happening more than a year after the King announced his cancer diagnosis.
“This is going to be, I’ll almost say, bittersweet, because I know it’s probably his last visit over here,” she said.
King Charles made at least 18 official visits to Canada as the Prince of Wales. This is his first trip to Canada since his coronation.
The King is the first reigning British monarch to read the speech from the throne since his mother Queen Elizabeth II delivered the speech in 1977.
David Greenberg, who was among the crowds lining the parade route, also attended the parade for the previous monarch’s throne speech. He said he was watching history happen.
“It doesn’t happen very often. It may not happen again,” he said.
The royal visit is happening at a critical moment, as U.S. President Donald Trump repeatedly calls for Canada’s annexation and attempts to overturn the rules of global trade with tariffs.
“I think in the long run it’ll do good for Canadians to remember we’re Canadians, and not the 51st state,” MacDonald said. “Maybe this visit and him doing the throne speech will remind Canadians of that.”
Elizabeth Armstrong, another of the royal watchers in the crowd Tuesday morning, called it a “strong but quiet statement from His Majesty.”
The royal couple arrived in Ottawa Monday afternoon. They spent time at a local farmers market and held private audiences with Carney and Simon.
The King will lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier later Tuesday, before returning to the airport to end the visit.
— with files from Nick Murray and Sarah Ritchie
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 27, 2025.