Ottawa, ON – In a powerful and symbolic show of unity, His Majesty King Charles III delivered a historic Speech from the Throne today from the Senate Chamber in Ottawa—becoming the first reigning monarch in nearly half a century to personally open a new session of Canada’s Parliament. The event marked a moment of profound national reflection, royal tradition, and reaffirmation of Canadian sovereignty amid rising global uncertainty.
The King’s address, delivered with Queen Camilla seated by his side, was crafted in collaboration between the Prime Minister’s Office and Buckingham Palace, and included distinct personal reflections. It blended ceremonial dignity with subtle yet clear messages of national strength, pride, and independence—especially in light of ongoing tensions with the United States under President Donald Trump.
“Every time I come to Canada, a little more of Canada seeps into my bloodstream — and from there straight to my heart,” the King said, drawing a warm and extended applause.
This marked King Charles’s 20th visit to Canada but his first as Sovereign. His words touched on Canada’s proud history, its unique identity, and the enduring values of bravery, sacrifice, diversity, and kindness that define the nation. He expressed admiration for the country’s ongoing resilience, particularly in the face of international economic challenges and shifting geopolitical alliances.
Echoing Canada’s national anthem, the King declared,
“The True North is indeed strong and free,”
a remark that prompted a standing ovation from the gathered dignitaries, including Prime Minister Mark Carney, Governor General Mary Simon, provincial premiers, Supreme Court justices, and former prime ministers Justin Trudeau, Stephen Harper, and Kim Campbell.
The Speech from the Throne traditionally outlines the government’s legislative priorities and is usually read by the Governor General. Today, however, Charles became the first monarch to do so seated in the new Senate throne—crafted with English walnut from Windsor Great Park and engraved with the late Queen Elizabeth II’s cipher.
Among the government priorities outlined were:
- Making housing more affordable by cutting income taxes and removing the GST on first-time home purchases.
- Establishing a “Major Project Office” to expedite nationally significant infrastructure.
- Promoting internal free trade by removing provincial trade barriers.
- Strengthening public safety by hiring more police officers and toughening border measures.
- Restoring public trust in Canada’s immigration system.
- Advancing Indigenous reconciliation as a central pillar of national progress.
While the address outlined domestic policy, it also carried subtle foreign policy implications. The King acknowledged a “drastically changing world” and the need for Canada to form new alliances while reinforcing its values and identity, saying,
“Canadians can give themselves far more than any foreign power on any continent can ever take away.”
This was widely interpreted as a response to recent annexationist comments made by President Trump and a reaffirmation of Canada’s sovereign status as a constitutional monarchy rooted in Indigenous, British, and French heritage.
Prime Minister Carney, who extended the invitation for the King to deliver the address, praised the speech, saying it conveyed “a strong message of a confident Canada, pride, sovereignty and a great future.”
The throne speech was delivered in both English and French, underscoring Canada’s bilingual heritage. After the address, the King and Queen participated in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, accompanied by a moving rendition of Last Post and the Lament. Crowds erupted in cheers of “God Save the King” and “Thank you for coming” as Charles shook hands with onlookers before departing Ottawa.
The royal couple arrived in the capital just a day prior, visiting a local farmers’ market, engaging in private audiences with the Governor General and Prime Minister, and travelling through the parliamentary precinct in Canada’s state landau. The ceremonial arrival included a full military honour guard, a 21-gun salute, and a parade escorted by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
Royal watchers gathered along Wellington Street described the moment as historic and emotionally significant, particularly in light of the King’s recent cancer diagnosis. “This is going to be, I’ll almost say, bittersweet,” said one onlooker, “because I know it’s probably his last visit over here.” Another said simply, “It doesn’t happen very often. It may not happen again.”
Royal expert John Fraser noted that the event blended informality with formality in a distinctly Canadian fashion. “The King established a record of easy informality despite all of the ceremony,” he said. “It was a strong but quiet statement.”
As the King and Queen departed Canada aboard a Canadian government aircraft just after 1:00 p.m., their visit left behind a clear message: Canada is not only proud of its past and present, but confidently shaping its future—on its own terms, strong and free.
