Overview

• Charles became the first reigning monarch since 1977 to deliver a speech from the throne in the converted Senate chamber while Parliament undergoes renovations.
• The government-written address outlined priorities such as strengthening the domestic economy, reshaping security and trade arrangements with the United States, and bolstering national unity.
• Thousands of Canadians turned out in Ottawa for ceremonial events including a street hockey puck drop, a meeting with Indigenous leaders, and Queen Camilla’s swearing-in as a privy councillor.
• The visit emphasized Canada’s constitutional monarchy and distinct identity within the British Commonwealth, reinforcing ties that Prime Minister Carney said crises only fortify.
• US Ambassador Pete Hoekstra dismissed the gesture as unnecessary, saying the annexation debate is over despite the royal presence signaling international support for Canada.