“Democracy, pluralism, the rule of law, self-determination, and freedom are values which Canadians hold dear, and ones which the government is determined to protect,“ King Charles said, adding that Canada was facing a “critical moment.”
Prime Minister Mark Carney invited the 76-year-old British monarch -- Canada's head of state as it is a Commonwealth member -- to the capital, accompanied by Queen Camilla.
Although the speech was read by the king as if it were his own words, it was written by the prime minister’s office to set out the government’s priorities to “build Canada strong“ and how it aims to achieve them.
“The system of open global trade that, while not perfect, has helped to deliver prosperity for Canadians for decades, is changing,“ Charles said, in cautious words.
Not to be outdone, Trump on Tuesday posted on his TruthSocial platform about annexing Canada -- eliding mention of King Charles -- by offering protection from his proposed “Golden Dome” missile defense system.
There was no immediate response from Canada to Trump's claims.
The speech was delivered in the Senate -- a former railway station that has been converted while parliament undergoes renovations -- with past prime ministers, Supreme Court justices and Indigenous leaders in feather headdresses in attendance.
King Charles's “speech from the throne” was the first by a monarch in nearly half a century. It was delivered by Charles's mother, the late Queen Elizabeth II, in 1957 and 1977.
Tuesday's event, Mathieu said, was a message to Trump to show him that “Canada is not alone in this fight.”
Charles said in the speech that Canada would also “build new alliances” and seek out “reliable trading partners and allies around the world,“ while reinvesting in its military and Arctic defense.
Festive welcome
The atmosphere was festive, with people waving Canadian flags, a 21-gun salute and a fighter jet flyover. The king stopped several times to speak with people along a security fence before and after his speech.
“If there’s anything that he can do to demonstrate Canada's sovereignty I think that that’s fantastic,“ she told AFP. “Nobody wants to be absorbed into the US.”
“Elbows up,“ said Marion Hand, 88, in reference to Carney’s battle cry in the face of Trump's annexation threats. She traveled from Mississauga, Ontario for the event and was visibly giddy after shaking hands with the king and queen.
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