London: Amid growing trade tensions between Canada and the United States, King Charles has reaffirmed his commitment to Canada in a symbolic gesture.
On Wednesday afternoon, the King, who serves as Canada’s head of state as part of the Commonwealth, met with Greg Peters, the Canadian Usher of the Black Rod, and Raymonde Gagné, Speaker of the Canadian Senate, at Buckingham Palace.
During the meeting, King Charles presented a newly commissioned ceremonial sword to the Usher of the Black Rod. The sword, created to mark the transition of reign, was a gift from the Canadian Senate.
Expressing his gratitude, the King reportedly spent around 30 minutes discussing matters of national and global importance with his guests. However, it remains unclear whether U.S.-Canada relations were among the topics addressed.
Although the meeting had been planned in advance, it comes at a particularly delicate time, with U.S. President Donald Trump imposing strict trade tariffs and making controversial remarks about Canada’s sovereignty, suggesting it could become America’s “51st state.” Some observers have questioned whether Trump, a known admirer of the British monarch, fully recognizes King Charles’ role as Canada’s sovereign.
In February, during the 60th anniversary of Canada’s flag day, the King appeared to reinforce his support for the nation, stating that the maple leaf flag symbolizes "a proud, resilient, and compassionate country." He also shared his deep affection for Canada, recalling his numerous visits and friendships there.
This marks yet another instance of the King being involved in high-level diplomatic matters. Recently, his letter inviting Trump for a second state visit was publicly displayed in the Oval Office. Additionally, he met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at Sandringham, shortly after Zelenskyy’s confrontation with Trump.
In recent weeks, King Charles also held a private discussion with former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at Sandringham, just before Trudeau stepped down from office.
