King Charles and Queen Camilla arrived in Ottawa on May 26 for a brief visit to Canada-Charles’ first trip to North America since becoming king.
The 76-year-old monarch and his 77-year-old wife planned less than 24 hours of events packed with symbolic moments and official meetings, even as his son, Prince Harry, quietly flew to Shanghai for a surprise appearance at a global tourism conference.
Harry, 40, who now lives in Montecito, California, with Meghan Markle and their two children, has been in the headlines recently for his ongoing legal fight over UK security arrangements. The Duke of Sussex told BBC News he wants to reconcile with his family, saying, “There’s no point in continuing to fight anymore. Life is precious.” Yet, he also noted that his father won’t speak to him because of the security dispute, though Harry hopes Charles could help restore his protection. The palace has denied that the king has any say in this matter.
Charles’ trip to Canada marks his twentieth visit to the country, while Queen Camilla’s is the sixth. Unlike his past visits, this one is unusually short, reflecting his ongoing weekly cancer treatments. Upon arrival, the royal couple kicked things off with a community event, meeting Canadians from across the country. Charles held a private audience with Governor General Mary Simon and then met Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. Meanwhile, Queen Camilla was scheduled to be sworn in as a member of the Canadian Privy Council.
No royal visit is complete without tradition, so the couple planted a commemorative tree at Rideau Hall, near the sugar maple they planted there in 2017. The day ended with a reception honoring Canada’s 10 provincial lieutenant governors and three territorial commissioners.
The highlight of the visit was scheduled for May 27, when King Charles, as Canada’s Head of State, attended the State Opening of Parliament alongside Queen Camilla. He delivered the Speech from the Throne in the Senate Chamber-a rare occasion, only the second time a sovereign has done so, following Queen Elizabeth in 1957. This historic moment was seen as a significant gesture of connection between the monarch and the Canadian people.
Charles drew on more than five decades of public service during his speech, representing the policies and priorities of Prime Minister Carney’s government. The trip was also a delicate diplomatic balancing act, given the tense relationship between the UK and the US, especially after Carney’s election victory, which was seen as a rejection of Donald Trump’s agenda. Trump’s controversial remarks about Canada becoming the “51st state” had not gone down well, and Carney reportedly was unimpressed by the UK’s invitation to Trump for a second state visit.
In the lead-up to this trip, Charles and Camilla visited Canada House in London on May 20. Charles was presented with a key to the building, mirroring the honor given to King George V when Canada House first opened in 1925.
This short but meaningful visit highlighted not only Charles’ role as Head of State but also the complex web of family drama and international diplomacy he’s currently navigating. With Prince Harry on the other side of the world and their relationship still strained, Charles’ visit to Canada served as a reminder of his duties amid personal and political challenges.
