King Charles expressed his deep attachment to Canada and paid tribute to its identity
At the invitation of Prime Minister Mark Carney, King Charles opened the 45th session of the Canadian Parliament and delivered the Speech from the Throne, becoming the first monarch to do so since his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, in 1977.
King Charles, speaking during a symbolic visit to show support for Canada at a time it has faced US annexation threats, expressed his love for Canada and said the country would remain 'strong and free' reut.rs/3SSxGAn
This visit took place in a singular climate, marked by the tensions provoked by US President Donald Trump, who recently expressed his wish to integrate Canada as the 51st state of the United States.
King Charles opened his speech with personal remarks, expressing his deep attachment to Canada and hailing Canada’s unique, globally recognized identity, underlining the national pride, unity and prospects that drive the country.
King Charles recalled that this was his 20th visit to Canada, saying that with each visit, a little more of the country entered his heart.
He also acknowledged the unceded territories of the First Nations, stressing the importance of respect and reconciliation, an explicit recognition unprecedented in an official speech by the monarchy in Canada.
King Charles then reminded the audience that Canada, like the rest of the world, was facing a new reality marked by profound upheaval.
Echoing the words of Prime Minister Mark Carney, he emphasized that the country is undergoing a transformation unprecedented since the Second World War, a pivotal period that is enabling Canadians to reinvent themselves, nurture great ambitions and take bold action as a free nation, while forging new global alliances based on our distinctive values.