King Charles III arrives in Canada amid tension with Trump

In response to President Donald Trump’s calls for an annexation of Canada’s northern neighbor, King Charles III, the British monarch, has arrived in Canada for a two-day visit that officials claim will bolster its support for the nation’s sovereignty.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s party won the general election last month amid Trump’s threats, and the monarch’s trip, which started on Monday, invited him.

After gaining its independence from Great Britain in 1867, Charles is the ceremonial head of state in Canada.

The King will make his first “Speech from the Throne” address in Canada since 1977, which will be delivered by a British monarch on Tuesday.

Charles is expected to convey a message of support for Canada in response to Trump’s statements, despite the British monarch’s recent policy of not interfering with politics and continuing to be a symbol.

According to Ralph Goodale, Canada’s envoy to the United Kingdom, “the prime minister has made it clear that Canada is not for sale now, is not for sale ever.”

The king’s authority and strength will be strengthened by that statement.

As a result of the ongoing trade dispute between the two nations, Canadian officials have publicly refrained from making Trump’s comments that their nation should become the country’s 51st state. Carney told Trump that Canada is “not for sale” during a White House visit this month.

Since becoming king in September 2022, Charles will make his first trip to the former British colony with his wife, Queen Camilla.

The royal couple’s visit has “profound significance,” according to Governor General Mary Simon, the monarch’s ceremonial representative in Canada.

Simon, who is the first Indigenous person to hold the position, said in a statement, “it reaffirms the enduring constitutional bond that has shaped Canada’s journey to become a proud and independent nation.”

The king is unlikely to make any explicit statements against Trump during his visit, according to Justin Vovk, a royal historian at McMaster University.

“They are going to be disappointed if they are expecting to hear Donald Trump mentioned or “the 51st state” mentioned,” Vovk told Al Jazeera. The King is required to operate in a very small constitutional box.

He added that support for Canada will be “concerned in very generic terms.”

According to Buckingham Palace, the royal couple will visit an Ottawa park on Monday and meet with artists and vendors. After planting a tree in another area of the city, the king will perform a ceremonial puck drop to start a street hockey demonstration.