Trump effect? In a first since 1957, Canada invites British king to open Parliament, says report

Buckingham Palace has announced that King Charles III and Queen Camilla will travel to Canada later this month to take part in the state opening of parliament.

The King accepted an invitation to open Canada’s parliament on 27 May, a move described by Prime Minister Mark Carney on Friday as “a historic honour that matches the weight of our times.”

The announcement follows recent remarks by Carney, who said that former US President Donald Trump would not succeed in “breaking” Canada through tariffs or annexation threats.

In the weeks leading up to the announcement, King Charles had shown signs of support for Canada, one of the Commonwealth realms in his role as constitutional monarch.

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In his first press conference since his party’s election win, Carney said “We will have the privilege of welcoming His Majesty King Charles III, who will deliver the Speech from the Throne on May 27. “Her Majesty the Queen will join the visit.”

This will be the first time a reigning sovereign has opened a new Canadian Parliament since Queen Elizabeth II did so in 1957, following that year’s federal election. She later returned in 1977 to open the third session of the 30th Parliament. Traditionally, it is the governor general who delivers the Speech from the Throne, outlining the government’s priorities. However, when the sovereign is present, they deliver the speech themselves.

The visit coincides with the aftermath of Canada’s federal election, which has produced a Liberal minority government. The Liberals are projected to secure 168 seats, though two recounts remain pending. The Conservative Party will form the Official Opposition with 144 seats, while the Bloc Québécois has 23, the NDP seven, and the Greens one.

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The King’s visit comes amid ongoing tensions with the United States, where President Donald Trump, since his re-election, has repeatedly made provocative remarks suggesting Canada should become the “51st state.” His threats, including punitive tariffs, featured heavily during the Canadian election campaign, prompting debate among party leaders over who was best positioned to stand up to Washington.

Despite his earlier rhetoric, Trump has since congratulated Prime Minister Mark Carney on his victory and said he looked forward to meeting him at the White House, expressing hope for a “great relationship” under Carney’s leadership.

King Charles, who serves as Canada’s head of state, is expected to maintain political neutrality, in keeping with the role of the monarchy within the Commonwealth. However, in light of recent sovereignty concerns, some voices in Canada have called for a more visible role by the monarch.

This will be King Charles’s first visit to Canada since ascending the throne, though he has made several previous trips — most recently in 2022 for Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee, as well as visits in 2017 and 2012.

As a constitutional monarchy, Canada vests executive authority in the Crown, exercised through the governor general and elected officials. While the monarch does not “rule,” the Crown remains the legal foundation of government. According to the Government of Canada, the King’s role is to “unite Canadians and give a collective sense of belonging to our country.”

The upcoming visit and the King’s participation in opening Parliament are expected to reinforce both the ceremonial and constitutional significance of the Crown’s presence in Canadian democracy.