Latest news with #JustinVovk
CBC
15-06-2025
- Politics
- CBC
What do you give the King? It could be cufflinks, a car or Indigenous beadwork
Hello, royal watchers. This is your regular dose of royal news and analysis. Reading this online? Sign up here to get this delivered to your inbox. Sometimes, a gift can say as much about the giver as it does about the person on the receiving end. So the list of official gifts to King Charles that was made public the other day by Buckingham Palace — complete with everything from cufflinks to a Rolls Royce — offers its own insights into leaders, countries and individuals who wanted to recognize his coronation or audiences they had with the monarch. Among the gifts are several with a Canadian connection. Many reflect Indigenous culture and heritage, whether they are beaded medallions or a four-volume Indigenous Peoples Atlas of Canada. "It definitely speaks to the great importance of Indigenous culture and history in Canada," Justin Vovk, a royal historian at McMaster University in Hamilton, said in an interview. "It speaks to a recognition that Canadian culture and Canada's relationship with the monarchy … cannot happen without the inclusion and the acknowledgement of our Indigenous history. "I think it also speaks to the respect that the King has for Indigenous history and Canada's Indigenous people. I feel like those gifts on a personal level would mean more to him than, 'Oh look, another Maple Leaf pen or another bottle of maple syrup.'" When Charles was in Canada last month to deliver the speech from the throne, he began with a land acknowledgment. "This land acknowledgement is a recognition of shared history as a nation," he said. "While continuing to deepen my own understanding, it is my great hope that in each of your communities, and collectively as a country, a path is found toward truth and reconciliation, in both word and deed." The gift list released by Buckingham Palace covers items received in 2023, including the Rolls Royce from the King of Bahrain; and cufflinks, photographs, letters and a jar of honey produced by White House bees from the U.S. president of the day, Joe Biden, and his wife, Jill. While there are extensive rules around the receipt of royal gifts, in general, they ultimately become part of the Royal Collection. The Rolls Royce Cullinan Series II motor car — valued in the British media at 300,000 pounds (about $550,000 Cdn) — was a coronation gift from Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the king of Bahrain. Judith Rowbotham, a social and cultural scholar and visiting research professor at the University of Plymouth in southwestern England, suggests the gift says "a great deal" about the country giving it. Bahrain is noted for its lavishness, she said in an interview. "To have sent something like a jar of honey would have been humiliating for them." But for the United States, other factors could be at play. "With a [country] like the U.S., where there are real protocols about public expenditure on gifts of this kind of nature, you could expect something such as honey," said Rowbotham. "And the interesting thing is that honey, of course, lasts forever, so it can sit in the Royal Collection." As for the cufflinks from the Bidens, Rowbotham suggests they could come out on Charles's wrists when he's on official duties that have an American connection. "A state visit to the U.S. or U.S. state visit to the U.K., it could well be that King Charles will choose to wear his coronation gift cufflinks, because they will be there as objects to be used as part of the Royal Collection." During an audience with Charles in November 2023, Natan Obed, president of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, gave the King the four-volume Indigenous Peoples Atlas of Canada and a lidded wicker basket. Other gifts to Charles include items from retired Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield, who met with the King in February 2023 to discuss sustainability in space. Hadfield gave the King a lunar policy handbook and a small 3D-printed model of an astronaut. Four months later, Hadfield gave Charles a copy of his book The Defector during a reception with global leaders on space sustainability. "I think there's probably a desire there for the novelty of it. What do you bring a person who's received virtually any kind of gift you can imagine?" Vovk said. "Well, probably something simple and unique with a personal touch." More recently, the government of Canada made a $50,000 donation to the King's Trust Canada, a national charity focused on youth opportunities, in honour of the visit by King Charles and Queen Camilla to Ottawa in May. "The government of Canada's donation is part of a longstanding tradition of recognizing visits or tours by members of the Royal Family with a meaningful gesture," it says on its website. The donation, Vovk said, is a way in which the Canadian government can show its support for what the monarchy does in a non-partisan way. "It's a way of contributing capital that will be used to promote shared values." Gifts from Commonwealth countries are "pretty much always" intended for use and display, Rowbotham said. There's a practicality to them, she said, and the Canadian government's recent donation is in keeping with that spirit. "You're not giving something to show off. You're giving something which has a legacy effect, and a legacy effect which in particular benefits the King as King of Canada." Getting ready for Prince Edward As a Canadian Armed Forces captain a decade ago, Chris Michaud recalls feeling anxious as he anticipated meeting his regiment's colonel in chief for the first time. Now, as commanding officer of the Prince Edward Island Regiment, Lt.-Col. Michaud is anticipating a similar feeling as he meets Prince Edward again later this month. "I can remember when I first met him myself 10 years ago and being nervous," Michaud said in an interview. "I expect to be nervous … when he arrives to greet him again and to welcome him to the regiment." Edward, the Duke of Edinburgh, will be on Prince Edward Island on June 25 as the unarmoured reserve regiment marks its 150th anniversary. Several events are planned over the two and a half days Edward is on the island. WATCH | Prince Edward visits the Prince Edward Island Regiment in 2015: Prince Edward inspects P.E.I. Regiment troops. 10 years ago Duration 0:56 "For us, it's a momentous opportunity," Michaud said. "We're small and this is an opportunity to celebrate the island's military history, its contribution to Canada, to peace operations, to [its] service in war as well…. "To have our colonel in chief to join us … on behalf of the soldiers, I can say it's a huge, huge honour and privilege to be able to welcome His Royal Highness to our birthday celebrations." Michaud said events planned by the regiment include a focus on priorities for Edward: the arts, Indigenous culture and youth. There will also be a royal regimental ball, a breakfast with serving members and a freedom of the city parade, something Charlottetown hasn't seen in almost 40 years. "For us, it's a huge opportunity to engage with the community as well because usually the only time that the island community … sees us is on Remembrance Day, so they'll have an opportunity to see us in a different light," said Michaud. Following Edward's time on Prince Edward Island, he will be, according to the Royal Diary, in Toronto on June 28 and Ottawa on Canada Day, July 1. Edward — in his role as chair of the Duke of Edinburgh's International Award — will also attend two youth development forums. One is in Charlottetown on June 26 and the other in Toronto on July 2. The forums will focus on efforts to integrate skills-focused experiences into public education. Edward's "presence highlights the global significance of Canada's efforts to lead in education innovation and youth development," the Duke of Edinburgh's International Award — Canada, said in a media release Thursday. Vovk says Edward's visit, coming right after King Charles's first official visit to Canada as monarch, will have a more official tone, and the fact that Edward will be here on Canada Day, and in Toronto and Ottawa, seems "particularly strategic." "The Duke of Edinburgh would not be able to be coming on an official visit, let alone be in the largest city in Canada, and the capital on Canada Day, without the government's invitation," Vovk said. "There is part of me that does wonder if because the King's [24-hour] visit was just so lightning fast, if this is the more comprehensive state visit that we've sort of been waiting for." Rowbotham also looks at the length of the trip — a week — and sees it as perhaps something of a makeup for visits that were called off last year, when both King Charles (after his cancer diagnosis) and Princess Anne (after an injury involving an incident with a horse) were unable to come to Canada. Edward and his wife, Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, have made numerous visits — separately and together — to Canada since they were married in 1999. Many have been lower-profile, working visits, when they spend time with groups, organizations and regiments with which they are affiliated. "They are the members of the Royal Family that visit Canada most often and they have clearly taken that on. They clearly love Canada," Rowbotham said. Edward and Sophie, Anne and Charles enjoy their time in the country, she said. "You can see that in the body language. You can see that in the commitment. I mean the King was dressing himself up as King of Canada symbolically, body language, the speeches, his words. It was an absolute affirmation of his commitment to his role as King of Canada." William's appeal for the ocean Prince William's profile on the international stage has been on the rise, and he was back there the other day, delivering a speech urging the world to "act together with urgency" to protect oceans. "They need our help," he told the Blue Economy and Finance Forum in Monaco on World Oceans Day. "Rising sea temperatures, plastic pollution and overfishing are putting pressure on these fragile ecosystems, and on the people and communities who depend most upon them." The speech in the presence of leaders such as French President Emmanuel Macron is in keeping with William's interest in conservation and environmental issues. And it is in keeping with an interest that goes back a couple of generations in his family. It's "very much within the tradition" of his grandfather, Prince Philip, as well as his father, King Charles, said Rowbotham. "It was Prince Philip who ensured that his son and then his grandsons should have a consciousness of environmental issues," she said. "Prince Philip choosing to involve himself with the World Wildlife Fund was considered to be an almost embarrassing departure by many traditional courtiers back in the 1950s and 1960s." William is personally passionate about such issues, Rowbotham said. "That interest, that investment, personal as well as official investment, bears a very strong mark not just of his family heritage, but also the way in which figures, notably [broadcaster] David Attenborough, have been invited into royal circles to advise, to guide, to warn." Ahead of World Oceans Day, a video was released of a conversation between William and Attenborough, whose recently released film Ocean looks at the vast but fragile underwater world. William's oceanic interest spills into his personal life, Rowbotham said, noting that he takes his family to walk along the underpopulated beaches of the eastern England county of Norfolk, where "you have the chance to walk along and see day by day what the sea has washed up." "Those are not really 'having fun' and 'building sandcastle' beaches," said Rowbotham. "Those are beaches where you walk along and you pick up interesting stones, where you see various forms of marine life washed up." Other natural life was the focus of attention later this past week from William, who is Duke of Cornwall, as he launched a plan to restore peatlands and promote sustainable farming on the Duchy of Cornwall's Dartmoor estate. "Dartmoor is a magnificent and complex ecosystem — the balance between nature and people has evolved for thousands of years to shape the landscape we recognize today," William said in the forward to the plan. "To keep Dartmoor special, we must respond to the twin challenges of global warming and the requirement to restore nature, while ensuring the communities on Dartmoor can thrive." Royally quotable "Some of them might not want to see you that much. It's a mixed bag sometimes.'" — Prince William, as he joked that family can be something of a "mixed bag" when he spoke to soldiers at an army air field. Royal reads Crowds cheered as King Charles and Queen Camilla attended the Trooping the Colour parade to mark the monarch's official birthday. At the King's request, there were marks of respect to remember the victims of the Air India crash, with the Royal Family in the parade wearing black armbands. [BBC] Charles was praised for his "faultless" firing technique after using an artillery gun during a visit to the home of the Royal Artillery. [BBC] When it comes to marking her 75th birthday year, Princess Anne had only one request — to host as many charities as possible for a special gathering at Buckingham Palace. [Daily Mail] David Beckham, the former England soccer captain, has described being knighted in King Charles's most recent honours list as "truly humbling." [ITV] Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, explored the idea of changing their family name to Spencer amid repeated delays by British officials to issue passports for their children, the Guardian has been told. Meghan posted a video of her dancing while pregnant with Princess Lilibet four years ago to mark her daughter's birthday. [BBC]
CBC
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CBC
Royal visit a 'historic moment' for Canada and King Charles
Social Sharing Hello, royal watchers. This is your regular dose of royal news and analysis. Reading this online? Sign up here to get this delivered to your inbox. In Ottawa's Lansdowne Park, those gathered in the enthusiastic crowd on Monday reached out, trying to shake hands or grab a selfie with King Charles and Queen Camilla. In the grounds of Rideau Hall, a spontaneous rendition of God Save the King filled the air after Charles and Camilla completed that most royal of royal duties: planting a tree. And in the Senate Tuesday, those listening broke into applause as Charles wrapped up his main task as Canada's head of state on a whirlwind trip to the country, drawing the speech from the throne to a close by saying, "As the anthem reminds us: The true north is indeed strong and free." The trip, which had unfolded in a highly charged political climate for the country after repeated annexation taunts from U.S. President Donald Trump, wrapped up with a sense that it was a historic moment for both the country and the monarch. "I think it is going to go down as one of the most successful royal visits," royal historian Justin Vovk of McMaster University in Hamilton said in an interview. The trip that brought Charles and Camilla to the country's capital for just shy of 24 hours "hit the mark everywhere it has needed to," Vovk said. WATCH | On the way to the Senate: King Charles and Queen Camilla parade to Parliament 17 hours ago Duration 2:35 "Everything from the moment they got off the plane, the people chosen to meet them, the inclusion of not just the chief of the National Assembly of First Nations, but also Indigenous musicians, Indigenous young people, and having high schoolers and Canadian youth get to meet him — the visit to Lansdowne Park was a huge, huge success." That time in the park Monday gave Charles and Camilla the opportunity to meet — very briefly — a wide range of Canadians. The enthusiasm of the crowd gathered there was palpable. "There was a great deal of warmth from the Canadian people gathered in Ottawa to greet the King and Queen," Toronto-based royal author and historian Carolyn Harris said in an interview. "There was spontaneous singing of God Save the King and O Canada at the tree planting at Rideau Hall. And on Tuesday, amidst all the cheering, there were a few people who shouted, 'Thanks for coming.'" Harris sees it all as "a very historic moment that was greatly appreciated by the thousands of Canadians who came to see King Charles and Queen Camilla during their time in Canada." As much as the visit was ostensibly to Canada, there is little doubt that organizers knew it would be scrutinized beyond the country's borders, particularly in Washington. But it would also be watched in the United Kingdom, where trade and other priorities can at times differ from those of Canada. "I think the U.K. government will be broadly happy with it, but it all depends on the response, if any, from the White House," Craig Prescott, a constitutional expert and lecturer in law at Royal Holloway, University of London, said in an interview. "That's the real thing and we don't know … whether Trump will just simply ignore it or whether we'll get a tweet on Truth Social all in capitals about it. That's the unpredictable thing here. "But I think in a sense this was a Canadian moment for Canada," said Prescott, who also described it as a "unique trip" for a "unique moment." It was also a moment for King Charles himself. "I would go as far as to say that outside the … immediate accession and the coronation, I think this has been his biggest moment in his reign so far," said Prescott. "There's so much in it. There's the Commonwealth element. There's the political element. There's the moment it is for Canada … that tightrope with the U.K." WATCH | The full throne speech: FULL SPEECH | King Charles delivers speech from the throne 15 hours ago Duration 28:24 King Charles, speaking from the Senate chamber on Tuesday, delivered a speech from the throne that acknowledged the worry that comes with a 'drastically changing world' — including a changing relationship between Canada and the U.S. But the speech also looked forward, pointing to government plans to increase affordability, take on major projects and build a strong economy that 'serves everyone.' In watching Charles, Prescott sees a "modern monarch" distinguishing himself from the 70-year reign of his mother, Queen Elizabeth. The throne speech Charles read, which included remarks outside those written by the Canadian government, was an "example of him delivering a sharper speech than Elizabeth II would," Prescott said. "Elizabeth II would have covered the same territory but in much more coded language. This speech didn't need to be decoded as such.… This was crystal clear and that's the big change, really." Prescott thought he detected a look of nervousness from Charles before he read the speech. "If you watch your mother do the state opening of Parliament in the U.K. — and that is a very dry speech — this is very much the Canadian equivalent. But he knew he was going to be saying much more than that. It's a much bigger moment." As much as Charles and Camilla were enthusiastically welcomed for the short visit, there are lingering questions. How much will the visit resonate with Canadians outside those who eagerly hit the streets of Ottawa to see them or who followed along from home? "I don't think we can anticipate that this is going to lead to any major shifts in Canadian sentiments about the monarchy, positive or negative," said Vovk, of McMaster University. "I think that some Canadians will see this visit as having been something good for Canada in the moment, but I think the level of comfortable indifference towards the monarchy … will largely stay where it is." No matter what level of success could be seen out of the visit, any endeavour can come with missed opportunities. "The brevity of the tour meant that it was very focused on Ottawa, on various points around the city," Harris said. "A longer tour would allow the King and Queen to visit more places in Canada, and interact with more Canadians and take in the full diversity of Canadian culture and society. "But this was a short, targeted royal visit, focused on delivering the throne speech. So it makes sense that this tour was quite focused on Ottawa." Amid all the enthusiasm shown for King Charles and Queen Camilla, there was one spot of protest, a moment that also left a mark for Vovk. "When there were the protesters at Lansdowne Park chanting, 'Not our King,' I was actually quite moved by the fact that this is Canada and they were able to do that and protest like that freely," he said. "And it was done in a peaceful way that you don't see in other places in North America. And I thought, what could be more representative of Canada than the ability to have two completely contradictory world views occupying the same space and to still be maintaining the peace?" Looking back at the visit Here's a look at how the first day of the visit went. And here's how Tuesday — the second and final day of the visit — unfolded. 'Pretty unbelievable' to meet the King again The Coronation Girls got to see King Charles a second time. "Not only did we have tea with the King in Buckingham Palace in December of 2023, but it was pretty unbelievable that his coming to Ottawa meant that a few of us could meet him again," Carol Shipley said via email. The Coronation Girls are the focus of a documentary feature film that premiered late last year and followed a dozen Canadian women while they were in England late in 2023. They were retracing the steps of a formative trip they made to the United Kingdom as teenagers at the time of Queen Elizabeth II's coronation in 1953. WATCH | The Coronation Girls remember a fateful trip: Coronation Girls share 70-year history with the Royal Family 1 day ago Duration 5:41 As King Charles arrives in Ottawa to deliver a historic speech from the throne, CBC's chief correspondent Adrienne Arsenault connects with a Canadian who shares a unique connection to the Royal Family that dates back to 1953. Three of the Coronation Girls were at Rideau Hall on Monday, watching Charles and Camilla plant a blue beech tree. "It was so fitting for King Charles to plant a tree — he was concerned about the environment long before most of us were thinking of it," Shipley, 89, of Ottawa, said. "At the palace, he and Yvonne Harris, a Coronation Girl from Yukon and more recently, Port Coquitlam, B.C., shared their passion and commitment to save the planet." Shipley recalled Yvonne telling Charles: "Trees are the lungs of our planet." Yvonne died two months ago, Shipley said. "We are especially grateful to His Majesty for coming to Canada at this important moment in our country's history to support us in our resolve to protect our sovereign nation from threat." What's the protocol? Those watching the royals can often wonder about the protocol involved with meeting them. And there was a moment on Tuesday that might have seemed a bit unusual ahead of the throne speech: Former governor general Michaëlle Jean led King Charles by the hand to meet Assembly of First Nations Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak. "On the one hand, the general protocol is that one doesn't do that: initiating physical contact, let alone physically leading members of the Royal Family," Vovk said via email. But there's also a sense that there are warm, close relationships between Charles and many of the previous governors general. "I suspect this incident falls somewhere between these two: Ms. Jean probably did overstep the broad protocols, but she may have been given consent by His Majesty to do so or felt she could based on their previous working relationship," Vovk said. Harris, the Toronto-based historian, said there is "often a relaxed atmosphere" on royal tours in Commonwealth realms. "King Charles III has embraced comparative informality on royal tours of Canada." Jean will likely receive media scrutiny based on coverage of past governors general and their interactions with the monarch, Harris said. "In 2017, Gov. Gen. David Johnston received extensive press coverage for lightly touching Queen Elizabeth II's elbow to help her down the stairs at Canada House." Royally quotable "As I have said before, 'Every time I come to Canada, a little more of Canada seeps into my bloodstream — and from there straight to my heart.'" — King Charles, in his speech from the throne delivered in the Canadian Senate on Tuesday.
CBC
26-05-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Why King Charles is visiting Canada to deliver the throne speech
His first official visit as King ⭐️HERE'S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW⭐️ On May 27, King Charles will read the speech from the throne in Ottawa. The speech is part of the opening of the new session of Parliament. It is the first time Charles has visited Canada since he became King. It's the first time since 1977 that a monarch has read the speech. Read on to learn more about the visit's historic significance. ⬇️⬇️⬇️ King Charles and Queen Camilla arrive in Canada today. King Charles is set to read the speech from the throne to open Parliament on May 27 in Ottawa, Ontario. Charles is King of Canada and the country's head of state, though the role is mostly ceremonial. It will be the first visit for King Charles since he was crowned in 2022. It will also be the first time in almost 50 years that the reigning monarch will deliver the throne speech, and the first time it will be done by a king. 'He's the first king to ever read it, but he's also doing it at a really important moment in our history,' said Justin Vovk, a royal historian from Hamilton, Ontario. Recent tensions with the United States and economic concerns have 'many Canadians worried about the future,' said Vovk. 'The monarchy has been around for 1,000 years and so it provides a sense that our political system is strong and it will continue.' What is the speech from the throne? The speech from the throne opens Parliament and lays out the government's expected direction and goals. The speech happens after a general election or after Parliament has been prorogued. The governor general usually reads the speech, on behalf of the monarch, as their representative in Canada. The last speech from the throne was read by Governor General Mary Simon in 2021. What is a throne speech? Governor General Mary Simon read the previous speech from the throne in 2021. The governor general typically reads the speech as the monarch's representative in Canada. (Image credit: Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press) This new session of Parliament will open on May 27. The throne speech will outline newly elected Prime Minister Mark Carney's minority Liberal government's plans for the future. King's visit on heels of Trump '51st state' threats Carney invited the King to visit the capital and read the speech. The King is only allowed to visit Canada on the invitation of the Prime Minister, said Vovk. 'This historic honour matches the weight of our times,' said Carney in a statement issued on May 2. King Charles and Queen Camilla recently visited Canada House Trafalgar Square, in London, United Kingdom. The royal couple are set to visit Canada for the first time since Charles became King. (Image credit: Arthur Edwards/The Associated Press) In a press conference, Carney said the King's visit underscores Canada's sovereignty. The visit comes after repeated statements from U.S. President Donald Trump about making Canada the 51st state. However, Vovk said he doesn't think this visit is meant to provoke Trump. Historic moment The last time a monarch read Canada's speech from the throne was in 1977, almost 50 years ago. Queen Elizabeth II, King Charles's mother, read it while visiting Canada to mark her Silver Jubilee, which celebrated 25 years on the throne. Before that, she delivered the speech in 1957 to mark her first visit to Canada as a reigning monarch. That was the first time a monarch opened Canada's Parliament. WATCH — Why Canada has a Royal Family and a King Charles became King of Canada upon his mother's death in 2022. This will be his 20th visit to the country but his first as monarch. This visit could be a test to see how the Canadian public reacts to their new king, Vovk said. 'Charles has, and I think he's known this from Day 1, a real uphill battle with his public image and popularity,' he said. Bloc Québécois calls invitation 'strange' While royal-watchers might be lining up to catch a glimpse of the King and Queen, not everyone is happy about this visit. Some of those critics are Quebec nationalists, who reject the British monarchy. The Bloc Québécois, a Quebec nationalist party, issued a statement in French calling Carney's invitation to the King 'strange'. The statement said Carney's decision is "revealing of Liberal values," and those are "irreconcilable with those of Quebecers."
Globe and Mail
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Globe and Mail
With King Charles set to visit Canada, the monarchy finds new relevance as Trump threatens annexation
When King Charles III ascended the throne in 2022 after the death of his popular mother, Queen Elizabeth II, support for the monarchy was fading and several Commonwealth countries were considering dropping the King as head of state. Now, as King Charles makes his first visit to Canada as monarch next week, his popularity is soaring and the monarchy has found new relevance in the face of U.S. President Donald Trump's talk of annexation. 'This is a chance for Charles to demonstrate on the world stage the active role that the monarchy plays in the constitutional democracies of Canada, Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand and other countries, in a world that is frequently asking, 'What's the point of having a royal family?'' said Justin Vovk a historian at McMaster University. 'It sends a message to people in Canada and the United States about why Canada is separate, why Canada is different.' The King's constitutional role will be on full display Tuesday when he reads the Speech from the Throne to open the 45th Parliament. It's only the second time the monarch has opened Parliament – Queen Elizabeth did it in 1957 to open the 23rd Parliament and 20 years later she read the Throne Speech to begin the third session of the 30th Parliament. Dr. Vovk said Prime Minister Mark Carney's decision to invite King Charles –officially extending the invite in March, not long after he took office – was shrewd. 'It's an ace up the sleeve for him to be able to say to Trump: 'This person, this institution that you love and respect and admire is at the heart of our institution, the heart of our identity as Canadians, as a sovereign country.'' Pageantry, spectacle and hockey to mark King Charles's visit to Ottawa The two-day trip to Ottawa comes at an opportune time for King Charles, who has struggled to win over the public and form an identity separate from his mother, who reigned for 70 years. At the time of his coronation in May, 2023, expectations of him were low and the future of the monarchy looked uncertain. His popularity in Canada had fallen by eight points to 37 per cent in the six months after the Queen died, according to an Ipsos poll taken just before the coronation. Six in 10 of those surveyed also wanted a referendum on the role of the monarchy. Several Commonwealth governments were also voicing discontent at having the King as head of state. Barbados became a republic in 2021 and last year the Jamaican government introduced legislation to follow suit. During a trip to Australia last October King Charles faced awkward questions about republicanism and there have been calls from a number of Commonwealth leaders in the Caribbean for reparations to address the Crown's role in the slave trade. His age, 76, and cancer treatments have also forced him to cut back on public events and travel, further eroding his presence on the world stage. Mr. Trump's return to the White House has given King Charles a new purpose – a chance to show his mettle in defence of one of his realms and use Mr. Trump's fascination with the Royal Family to pursue diplomatic objectives. While protocol dictates that the King can't comment publicly on political matters, he has managed to send some not-too-subtle signals of support for Canada in recent months. During a recent meeting with Mr. Carney at Buckingham Palace, it was widely noted that the King wore a red tie. In March, King Charles visited a British aircraft carrier wearing a string of Canadian medals and planted a red maple tree on the palace grounds in honour of Commonwealth forests. He also celebrated the 60th anniversary of the Canadian flag in February by calling it 'a symbol of a proud, resilient and compassionate country.' 'He's shown his views by various acts of what you might call soft power and he takes his role as King of Canada very seriously', said Vernon Bogdanor, professor of government at King's College London and author of The Monarchy and the Constitution. How do you feel about King Charles's visit to Ottawa? Share your thoughts The ties between the royals and Canada have a personal dimension, too. Mr. Carney, as governor of the Bank of England for seven years, earned wide respect for navigating the 2016 Brexit crisis. The Prime Minister's brother Sean Carney, a former investment banker, runs the household of Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales, as Kensington Palace's chief operating officer. King Charles's quiet solidarity seems to be paying off. A recent poll of 1,001 people by Research Co. showed that 31 per cent wanted Canada to remain a monarchy. That was up eight points from a similar poll a year earlier. King Charles's personal approval had also climbed to 40 per cent. The King does have a tricky balancing act when it comes to Mr. Trump, given the monarch's many roles. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has tapped into Mr. Trump's admiration of royalty to curry favour. When he met Mr. Trump in the Oval Office in February, Mr. Starmer dramatically pulled out a letter from King Charles inviting Mr. Trump for a state visit this fall. He's the first U.S. President to be given that honour twice. The invitation has not gone down well with Mr. Carney, who bluntly told Sky News this month that Mr. Starmer's move rankled Canadians. 'To be frank, they weren't impressed by that gesture, quite simply, given the circumstance,' Mr. Carney said. Nonetheless the state visit will force Charles to carefully weigh his many responsibilities. The King could serve as a unifying force and improve Mr. Trump's relations with Britain, Canada and other nations. There's even been speculation in The Daily Mail that during Mr. Trump's state visit King Charles will extend an invitation for the U.S. to join the Commonwealth as an associate member. In a message posed on social media in March, Mr. Trump welcomed the idea: 'I Love King Charles. Sounds good to me!'
CBC
18-05-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Why King Charles's upcoming visit to Canada is unprecedented in many ways
Hello, royal watchers. This is your regular dose of royal news and analysis. Reading this online? Sign up here to get this delivered to your inbox. It's a quick trip to a place he's been 19 times before. In a few days, King Charles will arrive in Canada. As the country's head of state, he will deliver the speech from the throne to open the new session of Parliament in the shadow of U.S. President Donald Trump's repeated taunts that the country could become the 51st state. But the visit on May 26 and 27, short as it is, is an unprecedented outing on multiple fronts. "Unprecedented for Canada, unprecedented for Charles personally, unprecedented for the Crown and unprecedented for the state of affairs in North America," royal historian Justin Vovk said in an interview. Given that potential weight, just how much is riding on this visit, which comes at the invitation of new Prime Minister Mark Carney, who announced it just four days after his Liberals won election to form a minority government? WATCH | Speech emphasizes country's sovereignty, Carney says: Carney says King Charles opening Parliament 'underscores' Canada's sovereignty 16 days ago Duration 2:31 Vovk sees what's at stake in two extremes: "Everything and nothing." "On the one hand, nothing is riding on it, because of the constitutional mechanisms that separate the head of state from the prime minister. Even if the visit is a gaffe, our system of governance will continue … and it won't negatively impact the lives of Canadians," he said. "But at the same time, we know that Washington will be watching. We know that the president will be watching. We know that the other Commonwealth realms will be watching. "I think it's a safe assumption that Charles and the royal household are very much aware that this visit has to go flawlessly, because if it does, if it goes as well as [Charles's recent visit to Italy], this could be a unifying and stabilizing force for Canada that could help us weather this very turbulent period where Canadians are very concerned about the future." The visit will be Charles's first to Canada as monarch. Planning for a trip around this time a year ago was put off after his cancer diagnosis earlier in 2024. It's a rarity for the monarch to deliver the speech from the throne in Canada. Charles's mother, Queen Elizabeth, did it twice in her 70-year reign — once to open Parliament in 1957 (also her first trip here as monarch) and, 20 years later, when she was here marking her Silver Jubilee and read a speech to open the third session of the 30th Parliament. Never has a King read the speech in Ottawa — Elizabeth's father, King George VI, granted royal assent to several bills when he and his wife, Queen Elizabeth, visited Canada in 1939, but he didn't read a speech from the throne. "This will only be the third time in Canadian history that the reigning monarch has been here doing this ceremonial work, but also, I think … politically very significant reading of the throne speech," David Johnson, a retired political science professor in Cape Breton, N.S., said in an interview. Canadian throne speeches, which lay out the government's expected direction and goals, aren't typically magnets for the international media, but Johnson expects this one will be different. "It will make big news in Canada, it will also make news internationally. It will make news in Britain. It will make news in Europe, and I'm sure Mark Carney knows this, most importantly, this will make news in the United States," Johnson said. "I think the prime minister wants to make much more news with this and to send … ceremonial but … subtly real messages to the United States that we are different from them. "We have a completely different constitutional order, we are a different nation, we have a sovereignty, and the King is the symbolic manifestation of the Canadian Constitution and the Canadian government." Johnson will be watching closely for the wording within the throne speech that will be crafted by Canadian officials. "They will want to say something about the United States that gets picked up in the White House. And of course it will all be diplomatic. "But again, do they use the word 'threat' or do they use the word 'challenging times' and how [will] they refer to the Canadian government dealing with the American administration. And then governments all around the world will be listening and looking at this language word for word. So that's important.'" There is no public indication yet of any additional engagements for King Charles and Queen Camilla during their two-day visit, which is Charles's 20th to the country, and Camilla's fifth. On previous visits as Prince of Wales, Charles has shown interest in a wide range of issues, including Indigenous reconciliation and environmental and conservation matters. "He's been very vocal over the years about how important Canada is to him personally, how important Canada is to the monarchy," said Vovk. "But it will be interesting to see what comments he will have outside of the throne speech when he is here, too, because he will be expressing those as King of Canada, not as Prince of Wales." Charles met with two of his Canadian representatives in recent days. At Buckingham Palace, he had audiences with Gov. Gen. Mary Simon on May 5 and Saskatchewan Lt.-Gov. Bernadette McIntyre on Wednesday. McIntrye gave Charles Saskatchewan-themed gifts, including lentil and chickpea snacks, mustard and two wool scarves produced by a mill near Caron, Sask. In a news release on her website, McIntrye said she was honoured to meet with the King and to express her "gratitude for his strong support of Canada and Canadian sovereignty." Sitting down for a chat at a tea party Prince George couldn't hide his curiosity. The 11-year-old son of Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales, sat down and eagerly chatted with Second World War veterans and their families at a tea party. George is frequently seen with his younger siblings, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, at events, but until now it has been rare to see the second in line to the throne spend any extended time with people the royals routinely meet. But as members of the Royal Family took part in commemorations as part of the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day, George was visibly more involved than he generally has been in meeting and greeting guests at royal engagements. Vovk wasn't surprised to see George chatting as he did with veterans at the party at Buckingham Palace on May 5, and saw it as "exactly the kind of event" he would be part of as he gradually grows into his role as a future King. "The Royal Family's associations with the military and with service run so deeply that it would be very important in their values for their children, particularly George, to know how to talk with and interact with servicemen and women, veterans, the elderly." Judith Rowbotham, a social and cultural scholar and visiting research professor at the University of Plymouth in southwestern England, found it "significant and noteworthy" how George's parents handled his participation in the tea party. It wasn't announced ahead of time, which meant there was no prior media pressure and speculation about it, Rowbotham said via email. George was asked by his parents if he would like to go with his father and decided he would. "That lack of prior public knowledge of his attendance meant that if he had changed his mind, there would have been no criticism of him and no hurtful speculation about why," Rowbotham added. "I think that that underlines just how carefully and thoughtfully the Prince and Princess of Wales are bringing up their eldest child — accustoming him to being on public view, but limiting it and giving him options about his participation so that he is not too overwhelmed. There will be more of the same in years to come before he starts doing official duties formally." Vovk said there were "some really nice candid shots" of George at the tea party that showed him laughing, when so often in photos he has appeared more solemn. Vovk also saw George's appearance at the party as part of a "bonding experience" with his father. "There seems to be a much more hands-on and direct approach that William in particular is taking with George than I think we've ever seen with the Prince of Wales," he said. "We've never seen that level of direct parental involvement in nurturing with a future monarch. And I think that is something a lot of people want to see. They want to see if the monarchy has kind of learned its lessons about how it handles the next generation." Slim hope for reconciliation Prince Harry says he "would love reconciliation" with members of his family, but the prospects of that happening anytime soon appear slim. In a wide-ranging interview with the BBC in California — where he lives — after he lost a legal challenge over his security arrangements in the U.K., Harry said he was "devastated" by the ruling and that his father, King Charles, won't speak to him "because of this security stuff." Rowbotham says Harry doesn't understand that in this circumstance, his father can't talk to him. "Even a rumour of a conversation between them could have real constitutional implications — the King's son is suing the King's government in the King's court," she said. "Charles has to stand aloof because he cannot be seen to have any opinion on such a sensitive issue. Until and unless it is formally confirmed that Prince Harry has abandoned his protection claim, his father cannot properly afford to talk to him even without anything on that topic being discussed." Charles the man and father is likely to be very sad, Rowbotham said. "But he takes his coronation oath very seriously and I believe that as King, he clearly accepts that any reconnection must be preceded by a clear and unequivocal acceptance of the court decision supported by a [visit by Harry's family] to the U.K. surrounded by their own personal security." Vovk sees little prospect of reconciliation in the current circumstances. "How do you find reconciliation in a situation where one party still sees themself as the victim … while also perpetuating the situation?" Royally quotable "For as my grandfather put it: 'We shall have failed, and the blood of our dearest will have flowed in vain, if the victory which they died to win does not lead to a lasting peace, founded on justice and established in good will.'" — King Charles, quoting his grandfather King George VI during a speech marking the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day. Royal reads Public funding for the Royal Household has tripled in real terms since 2012, official figures show, with the rise driven largely by repairs and building work at Buckingham Palace. [BBC] King Charles saw a 30 million-pound ($55.6-million Cdn) increase in wealth last year, pushing his personal fortune to 640 million pounds ($1.2 billion Cdn), and ranks joint 238th on the list of the U.K.'s wealthiest people and families. [The Guardian] A rose has been named after Catherine, Princess of Wales, to highlight the healing power of nature, a topic she has been focused on, particularly in the past year, after she was diagnosed and completed chemotherapy treatment for cancer. Catherine also urged people to "reconnect to nature and celebrate a new dawn within our hearts" in the first of a series of social media videos aimed at raising awareness around mental health. [BBC, ITV] An exact cast of a Windsor oak tree, a giant canopy of stone lilies and a "graceful and strong" stone bridge symbolizing Queen Elizabeth as the bedrock of the United Kingdom are among shortlisted designs for a commemoration of the late monarch. [The Guardian] King Charles and Queen Camilla unveiled new state portraits on the second anniversary of their coronation day. [BBC] King Charles will host French President Emmanuel Macron for a state visit to the U.K. in July. [ITV] Eight centuries after Henry III rebuilt Westminster Abbey as the gothic landmark it remains today, Queen Camilla unveiled the foundation stone for a building on the medieval footprint of a long-lost sacristy. The King Charles III sacristy will offer welcoming, ticketing and security facilities for the abbey. [The Guardian]
