Crown questions to fore as king visits Canada amid tensions with Trump
Guardian3 days
King Charles III Begins Royal Tour of Canada
Above: King Charles III and Queen Camilla depart Canada House in London on May 20, 2025, after marking its 100th anniversary since opening in 1925. Image copyright: Arthur Edwards/POOL/AFP via Getty Images
The Spin
Anti-Trump narrative
The king’s visit demonstrates Canada’s strong relationship with the Crown and sends a clear message to President Trump. The royal tour, accompanied by the state opening of Canada’s Parliament, will reaffirm Canadian sovereignty and the independent identity that separates Canadians from their southern neighbors. Trump should take notice and drop his belligerent rhetoric.
Pro-Trump narrative
If Canada wishes to send a message to the U.S., there are easier ways to do it than this. Rather than normalizing relations, theatre like this will only complicate it, irritating the Trump administration through its anti-American sentiment. Canadians should move past the 51st state saga and work on practical issues like trade and security rather than staging elaborate symbolic events.