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King Charles in Ottawa, sending a message to the world against the Trump era

The British monarch opens the Canadian Parliament with a speech that, without ever mentioning him by name, seems to be directed at the President of the United States

No British monarch has crossed the Atlantic to participate so directly in Canadian political life in the last fifty years. Yet King Charles III chose this very moment to fly to Ottawa and officially open Canada’s new parliamentary session. This was no coincidence, according to Guardian columnist Martin Kettle, who sees the visit as sending a strong message: a symbolic gesture in defence of democracy, in opposition to the growing threat posed by Donald Trump.

A symbolic figure, a political message
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is said to have explicitly requested the presence of the British sovereign, considering it an effective way to strengthen the sense of national unity in an increasingly unstable global context. This is an important signal, especially in light of the possibility of a new presidential term for Trump in the United States. The visit, therefore, appeared to be a reaffirmation of Canada’s democratic identity and its bond, albeit modernised, with the constitutional monarchy.

The king’s speech: sober but eloquent
In his speech, delivered in Ottawa in English and French, King Charles carefully avoided any direct reference to Trump. However, the themes he touched on – from national pride to respect for the rule of law, from pluralism to global trade – clearly outlined his distance from any authoritarian tendencies. ‘Canada faces challenges unprecedented since the Second World War,’ said the king, praising the country as a ‘force for good’ and quoting the national anthem with the words: ‘The true North is truly strong and free’.

A new monarchical style
According to Kettle, this speech represents a decisive departure from the style of Queen Elizabeth II, who maintained strict public neutrality during her 70-year reign. Charles, while remaining within the constitutional limits of his role, has chosen a more direct, more personal approach. ‘He did his duty,’ writes the columnist, ‘but not in the way his mother did.’

A global Canada, between heritage and future
Today, Canada is a global power, freed from the colonial ties of the past. However, its choice to welcome and value the figure of the hereditary monarch, at a time of geopolitical and identity tensions, takes on a profound meaning. King Charles’ visit has become an event with a strong symbolic impact, reaffirming democratic values and historical alliances, in stark contrast to the nationalist and isolationist vision embodied by Trump.

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