Monarch to deliver Speech from the Throne as Canada tour marks major
milestone
Buckingham Palace has officially announced the full itinerary for King Charles
and Queen Camilla’s upcoming state visit to Canada, marking the King’s first
tour of the country since ascending the throne—and his 20th overall visit.
The royal couple will arrive in Ottawa on May 26, with the visit concluding on
May 27, as speculation grows over whether the trip could provide an opening
for a private reconciliation with Prince Harry, who resides nearby in
California.
According to the Palace, their visit will begin with a community celebration
of Canadian cultural heritage and diversity, followed by a symbolic moment
where King Charles will formally swear in Queen Camilla as a member of the
Canadian Privy Council.
The King is also scheduled to meet with Governor General Mary Simon and Prime
Minister Mark Carney, and revisit Rideau Hall, where he and Camilla previously
planted a sugar maple tree in 2017. This year, they will plant new trees
nearby in a gesture of continuity and renewal.
Later that evening, the monarchs will host a reception for the Lieutenant
Governors of Canada’s ten provinces and Territorial Commissioners from the
three territories.
On May 27, King Charles will make history by attending the State Opening of
the Canadian Parliament, delivering the Speech from the Throne in the Senate
Chamber. This marks only the third time a reigning Sovereign has delivered
such a speech in Canada, underlining the King’s ongoing commitment to the
Commonwealth realm.
The visit will conclude with a solemn tribute at the National War Memorial,
where the King and Queen will lay a wreath and flowers at the Tomb of the
Unknown Soldier.
With the King navigating a new chapter of his reign while recovering from
cancer, and with family tensions under public scrutiny, this trip stands as a
significant moment—both diplomatically and personally—for the monarch.
