By Paul Vieira

OTTAWA--King Charles III will visit Canada in late May and deliver the ceremonial throne speech that opens a new session of parliament, a move that Prime Minister Mark Carney said is a show of sovereignty amid President Trump's talk of annexing the country to be the 51st state.

Carney said he invited Charles to deliver the remarks to Canadian lawmakers on May 27. The speech traditionally outlines the government's policy agenda in the new parliamentary session, and Charles's scheduled reading marks the first time in five decades that Canada's monarch, or head of state, will travel to Ottawa for the event. The speech is generally read by Charles's representative in Canada, the Governor-General.

"This historic honour matches the weight of our times," Carney said. "Canada has a steadfast defender in our sovereign."

On Monday, the Carney-led Liberal Party won a rare fourth consecutive term in office, although fell short of a majority in the legislature. Carney campaigned as the leader best suited--given his experience guiding economies as governor at both the Bank of Canada and Bank of England--to deal with the protectionist White House.

Carney spoke with Trump this week, and the two are scheduled to meet in Washington on Tuesday to begin negotiations on a new bilateral economic and security pact. Carney told reporters Trump did not mention Canada as a 51st state during their call.

Charles's appearance in the Canadian parliament is meant to convey another message to the White House about ceasing talk of Canada as the 51st state. On Canada's election-day on Monday, Trump posted a message on the Truth Social platform arguing Canadians would be better off as the 51st state--a frequent refrain since his return to power that has stoked Canadian patriotism and galvanized voters. The annexation threats are alongside hefty tariffs on Canadian steel, aluminum, and Canadian-made cars, which risk throwing the Canadian economy into a prolonged downturn.

Charles's visit to Ottawa "clearly underscores the sovereignty of our country," said Carney, who has spoken twice with the king since being sworn in as prime minister on March 14. "I think it's a clear message to other countries around the world."

Write to Paul Vieira at paul.vieira@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

May 02, 2025 13:40 ET (17:40 GMT)

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