Blitz Bureau
KING Charles III warned that Canada is facing “unprecedented challenges” as tensions grow with the United States over annexation threats from President Donald Trump as he opened a new session of Parliament on May 28. The king said, “We must face reality: since the Second World War, our world has never been more dangerous and unstable. Canada is facing challenges that, in our lifetimes, are unprecedented.”
His speech comes after Trump repeatedly suggested the US could annex Canada. In response, Prime Minister Mark Carney invited the monarch to deliver the speech from the throne, a formal address that outlines the government’s priorities. The King’s visit is seen as a message of support for Canada’s sovereignty, reported AP. It is rare for the monarch to deliver this speech in Canada. King Charles’s mother, Queen Elizabeth II, did so only twice once in 1957 and again in 1977.
King Charles acknowledged that many Canadians are feeling unsettled by current events. “Many Canadians are feeling anxious and worried about the drastically changing world around them,” he said, according to AP.
He went on to praise Canada’s identity, saying, “I have always had the greatest admiration for Canada’s unique identity, which is recognised across the world for bravery and sacrifice in defence of national values, and for the diversity and kindness of Canadians.”
The King also reflected on how much Canada has changed since Queen Elizabeth opened Parliament nearly 70 years ago. “Canada has dramatically changed: repatriating its constitution, achieving full independence, and witnessing immense growth. Canada has embraced its British, French, and Indigenous roots, and become a bold, ambitious, innovative country that is bilingual and truly multicultural,” he said.
