Canada invites King Charles III to open parliament with rare move: Source-Nation
Several sources told Global News that Canada has invited King Charles III to open the parliament in the coming weeks.
If accepted, it would be the first time that the monarch has opened a parliament since Queen Elizabeth II last did so in 1957.
Sources told Global News that he may attend, but Buckingham Palace has not officially accepted it, and the palace needs to provide confirmation due to the agreement.
When the monarchs opened their parliament, they were the ones who spoke from the throne, outlining the government’s plans for its mission and direct priorities.
Liberals will form a minority government after Monday's election, and are expected to have at least 168 seats. The Conservatives will form a formal opposition with an estimated 144 seats, while the EU won 23, NDP 7 and Green Championships.
The date on which the king might open the parliament is not clear.
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However, the House of Commons sits on the calendar, currently listed as the first date for members of MPs on May 26, although such dates may still change.
The return of the new parliament will see the election of the speaker, followed by a speech on the throne, usually delivered by the Governor General as the royal representative.
The King's potential visit is also a time when U.S. President Donald Trump repeatedly threatened Canada's sovereignty, and he said many times since his re-election to Canada should become the “51st state.”
Such rhetoric, along with Trump’s tariffs, became the focus of the federal election campaign, with party leaders raising the question of who can best negotiate with the president.
In the days since the election, Trump congratulated Carney on his victory and said he hoped to meet with the White House prime minister in the coming days, adding that he believed he believed he had a “good relationship” with Canada under Carney.
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