King Charles III will open the Canadian parliament this month, the first time in almost 50 years that a monarch will deliver the “Speech from the Throne.”
Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government invited the King of Canada to mark the beginning of the new session, which is expected to begin on May 26. At a Friday press conference, the prime minister confirmed that the king accepted the proposal.
“To be clear, I have made the request of His Majesty, and he has accepted. He will open parliament with the speech from the throne, and that clearly underscores the sovereignty of our country,” said Carney, championing him as the “ultimate head of state.”
The invitation is a watershed moment for the Canadian monarchy, which has waned in public support for decades. This decline in enthusiasm was exacerbated upon the death of Queen Elizabeth II, who was buoyed by cultural nostalgia and her long history of advocacy for the nation.
Following her death, Ipsos polled Canadians about their opinions of the monarchy and its role in their country. Over half responded that they want all ties to the royal family cut.
Charles has never reached the popularity enjoyed by his mother, but turmoil with Canada’s next-door neighbor is giving him a slight bump in the polls.
Canada’s renewed interest in its head of state is a clear act of nationalist solidarity against President Donald Trump, who continues to harass the nation with proposals to transform it into the “cherished 51st state.”
This frustration is compounded by hefty tariffs leveled by the White House on Canadian industries, ostensibly as punishment for uneven trade deals and failing to combat drug and migrant trafficking across the border.
Amid the tension, Canadians emphasize and celebrate their differences from the United States as points of national pride. The existence of the monarchy is the country’s original divergence.
It will be the first “Speech from the Throne” delivered by a Canadian monarch since 1977, when Queen Elizabeth II read the address. The speech is intended to outline the government’s long-term goals and strategies for achieving them.
The speech from the throne is typically delivered by the governor general, the monarch’s representative in the nation. The king theoretically selects this viceroy, but in reality, they are chosen by the prime minister and rubber-stamped by the palace.
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The king is also represented by 10 lieutenant governors who represent him directly to each province of the country.
Charles’s role as King of Canada is entirely separate and distinct from his role as monarch of the United Kingdom.