The decision by King Charles to formally open Canada’s parliament on Tuesday reflects his role as a “steadfast defender” of the country amid threats to its sovereignty, says prime minister Mark Carney.
But Indigenous leaders say the rare visit is also a reminder that Canada’s founding relationship between the monarchy and the country’s first peoples cannot ever be “forgotten or displaced or broken”.
Charles, Canada’shead of state, arrives in Ottawa on Monday, and will on Tuesday open Canada’s 45th parliament by giving the speech from the throne in the country’s senate.
The visit marks the first time a king of Canada has ever undertaken a ceremonial speech from the throne. The last time a monarch opened a new session of parliament was in 1957, when Queen Elizabeth gave the throne speech. She subsequently gave a speech in 1977 to lawmakers as part of her silver jubilee tour of Canada.
Carney’s invitation to Charles comes against the backdrop of Donald Trump’s repeated threats that the US should annex Canada and make it the 51st state.
But when the king gives the throne speech laying out the new government’s goals and its plans to achieve them, he will be tightly constrained by what he can say.
“Because we have a constitutional monarchy, the king can only operate inside a box that is defined by parliament – because we don’t want a king, or any unelected person, affecting policy and laws,” said Justin Vovk, a royal historian and author. “Any influence the monarch exerts is done through subtlety.”
Vovk points to Elizabeth’s “brooch diplomacy” and her decision touse fashion statementsto telegraph support – or opposition – for political positions and leaders. When she met Trump in 2019, shewore a brooch gifted by Barack and Michelle Obamaand the following day displayed a snowflake brooch given to her by the governor-general of Canada amid tensions between Trump and then prime minister Justin Trudeau.
In a similar vein, Charles recently wore a British admiral’s uniform with the insignia of the Canadian military and later planted a red maple tree on the grounds of Buckingham Palace, both actions seen as tacit support for Canada.
But a lack of official public statements from the king on threats to Canada’s sovereignty is a reminder that the monarchy relies on the softest of soft power to make its point.
“The monarchy is always playing this game of catch-up because they live in a time-delayed bubble. They can’t act until they are given the advice and the permission from the prime minister. Everything is filtered through bureaucratic channels and so by the time the sovereign is able to make a gesture, it usually comes somewhat after the fact ,” said Vovk.
“It takes the monarchy time to catch up with the media and the expectations of a constantly changing world.”
The US ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra told CBC News his country was “thrilled” the king is visiting – but said there were more straightforward ways to make his point.
“If there’s a message in there, there’s easier ways to send messages. Just give me a call. [Mark] Carney can call the president at any time.”
During his visit, Charles and his wife Camilla will meet community groups and take part in a game of street hockey, where he is expected to drop the puck. But the visit is also expected to once again revive questions over whether Canadians still want a monarch as their head of state.
“Seeing the royal family in person always stirs up a level of interest in the royal family. And despite the waning interest, it’s much harder to be acrimonious to somebody when you see them in person. But every time we have a major royal event, it does raise questions about the system of government we have. Does it work best for Canada?” said Vovk.
A majority of Canadians say they want the system of a constitutional monarchy abolished, but under the 1982 Constitution Act, severing ties with the monarchy would require Canada obtain the approval from the commons and the senate, as well as the unanimous consent of all 10 provinces.
Thelast task is near impossible:provinces would fear that changes to the constitution could mean surrendering powers to the federal government.
That has not quieted a growing chorus of critical voices.
Before Charles’s coronation, the leader of the separatist Bloc Québécois said it wastime for Canada to sever its tieswith “incredibly racist” and “slave-driven” British monarchy.
“It’s a thing of the past. It’s almost archaeological. It’s humiliating,” Yves-François Blanchet told lawmakers in 2022 during a speech in parliament, adding his party had been “forced” to swear allegiance to a “conquering” empire, rendering their oaths to the crown “meaningless”.
Late last year, municipal councillors in the Yukon territoryrefused to swear or affirmthey would “be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles III” and his “heirs and successors according to law” as protest over the colonial history of displacement of Indigenous people.
But Perry Bellegarde, the former national chief for the Assembly of First Nations, said such frustrations reflect a failure of the crown to implement the terms of treaties signed between Indigenous peoples and Great Britain centuries ago.
“The crown never passed a treaty implementation act. Instead they passed the Indiana Act to control our people. But just because the crown has done immense harm, it doesn’t mean you forget about the treaty,” he said. “Our elders always said, ‘As long as the sun shines, rivers flow and the grass grows, the treaty will remain in effect for children and generations now and those yet unborn.’ That’s the covenant. It cannot ever be forgotten or displaced or broken.”
In 2001, Bellegarde and the late elder Gordon Oakes gave Charles, then Prince of Wales, the Cree name kīsikāwipīsimwa miyo ōhcikanawāpamik, meaning “the sun watches over him in a good way”. Bellegarde met Charles last week at Canada House in London ahead of the visit.
Indigenous leaders will meet the king when he arrives and ahead of his speech from the throne, a young Métis musician will perform and an Inuk elder will light thequlliq, a ceremonial fire.
“These are powerful symbols. But it’s also recognition of the power Indigenous peoples have to self-determination as defined by the constitution,” said Bellegarde.
“To have the king visit, to have our treaty partner travel here to meet with us, it reflects the foundations of this country. And it’s also a reminder for everyone:the honour of the crownin these agreements must also always be upheld.”
This article was amended on 26 May 2025. The speech that Queen Elizabeth gave in 1977 to lawmakers was part of her silver jubilee tour of Canada, not diamond jubilee as an earlier version said.