As King Charles prepares to touch down in Canada for the first time as the country's sovereign, the timing of the visit could not be more significant.
The visit was originally planned for last spring, but His Majesty's cancer diagnosis, and the subsequent Canadian election cycle, prevented the visit from taking place.
Now, in May 2025, we have new occupants in the Canadian Prime Minister's office, and the White House.
Former Governor of the Bank of England, Mark Carney, arguably won the recent Canadian election on being the best candidate to stand up to President Donald Trump - who has voiced his desire for Canada to become the 51st state of the United States of America.
The US President has a deep affection for the Royal Family and has much respect for King Charles
Getty
Canada "won't be for sale, ever", Mark Carney told Donald Trump in the Oval Office earlier this month, and now he has invited King Charles to open Canada's parliament for the first time.
Ralph Goodale, High Commissioner for Canada in the United Kingdom, said: "It’s a very important opportunity for His Majesty to be in a forum where he will have the opportunity to speak to Canadians at a time when that message about the significance and the strength of Canadian sovereignty needs to be reinforced by every means possible”.
In other words, diplomats believe The King's presence in Canada is a good opportunity to remind President Trump who Canada's Head of State is, and that the country remains a free, independent nation.
So, how is this likely to go down in the White House?
Well, Donald Trump has a deep affection for the Royal Family and has much respect for King Charles.
Canada "won't be for sale, ever", Mark Carney told Donald Trump in the Oval Office earlier this month, and now he has invited King Charles to open Canada's parliament for the first time.
Getty
Perhaps that is why it was easier for Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to strike a deal on trading tariffs with the USA recently, having dangled a carrot (in the form of an unprecedented second State Visit invitation from King Charles) in front of The President's eyes and the world's press.
However, this has been met with hostilities north of the border.
Prime Minister Carney recently told a UK journalist that Canadians "weren't impressed" by the UK government's actions.
Reading between the lines, it appears Canadians feel Donald Trump is being rewarded by King Charles, on the advice of the UK government, as he continues his calls to annex Canada.
This leaves King Charles in a difficult diplomatic conundrum - walking a very thin tightrope.
Sources close to The King insist the U.S. State Visit invitation, and the invitation to open Canada's parliament are two separate issues.
King Charles is Head of State in both the United Kingdom and Canada, with two separate governments and Privy Councils.
King Charles and Queen Camilla land in Ottawa later today.
Getty
As a constitutional monarch, His Majesty remains above politics and acts on the advice of his respective governments.
When two of his governments clash, however, it puts His Majesty in a difficult position.
Arguably, it is up to his Prime Ministers to find common ground, as King Charles wields his soft power on both sides of the Atlantic.
King Charles and Queen Camilla land in Ottawa later today.
Most Read
