It began as a joke. In December 2024, Donald Trump glibly informed Justin Trudeau that Canada should become the 51st state. Three months later, the “joke” appears to have turn into an American foreign policy goal for the second Trump administration.
Learn extra:
How Donald Trump’s attacks on Canada are stoking a new Canadian nationalism
Canadian Parliament has been unanimous in its response: “Canada is not for sale.” However Canada’s head of state, King Charles, has remained largely silent on the matter — till lately.
During the last a number of weeks, observers have began to select up on subtle signs of support for Canadians from the King. However many individuals have little question been questioning why there’s not been a direct assertion of help from King Charles.
The reply to that query isn’t so simple as many individuals would possibly assume.
King of Canada
Since 1689, Britain has been a constitutional monarchy. The sovereign is the top of state, however the prime minister leads the federal government. As such, the King can’t intrude with politics. He’s supposed to stay impartial and be the embodiment of the nation.
This important separation between palace and Parliament was solidified in Canada and all through the Commonwealth in 1931 with the Statute of Westminster. In 1954, the Royal Styles and Titles Act separated the British Crown from the opposite Commonwealth realms. Queen Elizabeth turned the primary sovereign to ever be referred to as Queen of Canada.
(CP PHOTO)
As a constitutional monarch, King Charles is sure by parliamentary limitations on his authority. He cannot act with out taking recommendation from the prime ministers in his numerous realms.
This implies King Charles can’t make a political assertion concerning the ongoing tensions between Canada and the U.S. with out the inexperienced gentle from Ottawa. When requested concerning the state of affairs in January, a palace official mentioned merely that that is “not something we would comment on.”
As former Alberta premier Jason Kenney later explained on social media:
“For Canadians dissatisfied that King Charles has not commented on President Trump’s threats to annex Canada: in his capability as King of Canada, he can solely act on the recommendation of his Canadian first minister, i.e. Justin Trudeau.”
Or, at this second, Mark Carney.
Indicators of help
The King met with Trudeau at Sandringham, the royal household’s personal property in Norfolk, England, on March 3. This assembly appears to have prompted a collection of symbolic gestures demonstrating the monarchy’s solidarity with Canadians.
The following day, the King performed an inspection of the British plane provider HMS Prince of Wales in his capability as head of the Armed Forces. Canadian medals and honours adorned his naval gown uniform throughout the inspection.
Per week later, the King planted a red maple tree at Buckingham Palace to honour Queen Elizabeth’s dedication to the preservation of forests and the bonds amongst Commonwealth nations.
(Aaron Chown/PA by way of AP, Pool)
On March 12, the King met with representatives from the Canadian Senate.
He offered a ceremonial sword to Gregory Peters, the Usher of the Black Rod (one of many Senate’s chief protocol officers). Raymonde Gagné, the speaker of the Senate, was additionally current for that assembly.
And on March 17, the King met with Carney as a part of the brand new prime minister’s whirlwind diplomatic tour of western Europe.
Some observers even pointed to the Princess of Wales’s pink gown on the Commonwealth Day Service of Celebration on March 10 as one more nod of recognition for Canada.
(AP Picture/Kin Cheung)
Tender energy and the Royal Household
These types of gestures are examples of what’s referred to as “soft power.” In contrast to the laborious energy of navy and financial power utilized by governments, gentle energy describes any variety of ways in which folks or teams can affect others via tradition, private diplomacy and even style.
As one Buckingham Palace supply remarked: “The King knows that seemingly small gestures can send a reassuring sign of recognition about what is going on around the world.”
Top-of-the-line recognized types of the monarchy wielding gentle energy is thru the usage of state visits. On the British prime minister’s request, world leaders are invited to London by the sovereign. The pink carpet is rolled out for them, they’re wined and dined in lavish dinners at Buckingham Palace they usually typically make a speech to Parliament.
These state visits are a manner for the Royal Household to make use of its gentle energy to positively affect diplomatic relations.
(Joe Giddens/Pool by way of AP)
In February, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer offered Trump with an invite from the King for a second state visit to the U.K.. To date, no date for the journey has been introduced, however the King’s conferences with Trudeau and Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy reportedly irritated Trump.
It stays to be seen how King Charles navigates his constitutional function as each king of the UK and of Canada. Will Trump’s state go to solely be about British pursuits? Or will Charles use it as an opportunity to deal with the considerations of his Canadian topics?
