It began as a joke. In December 2024, Donald Trump brilliantly told Justin Trudeau that Canada should become a 51st state. Three months later, “Jokes” has become the goal of an American foreign policy for the second Trump administration.
The Canadian parliament has been unanimous in its response: “Canada is not for sale.” But the state head of Canada, King Charles, recently – has been quite silent on this matter.
In the last several weeks, observers have begun to raise subtle signals of support from the king to Canadian people. But many people have no doubt why there is no direct statement of support of King Charles.
The answer to that question is not as simple as many people can think.
King of Canada
Since 1689, Britain has been a constitutional monarchy. The sovereign state is head, but the Prime Minister leads the government. For example, the king cannot interfere in politics. He is going to remain neutral and is the incarnation of the nation.
This significant separation between Palace and Parliament was frozen in Canada and in 1931 with the law of Westminster throughout the Commonwealth. In 1954, the Royal Styles and Titels Act separated the British Crown from other Commonwealth places. Rani Elizabeth became the first sovereign to be called the queen of Canada.
As a constitutional emperor, King Charles is bound by parliamentary boundaries over his authority. He cannot work without consulting the Prime Ministers in his various places.
This means that King Charles cannot make a political statement about the ongoing tension between Canada and the US without a green light from Ottawa. When asked about the situation in January, a palace official said that it is “nothing that we will comment on.”
As former Alberta Premier Jason Kenny later explained on social media:
“Canadians disappointed that King Charles did not comment on the dangers for President Trump’s Annex Canada: in his ability as the king of Canada, he can only act on the advice of his Canadian first minister, ie Justin Trudeau.”
Or, at this time, Mark Carney.
Signs of support
Raja met Trudeau in Sandringham on March 3 in Norfolk, England. The meeting has inspired a series of symbolic gestures showing the solidarity of the monarchy with Canadian people.
The next day, the king inspected the British aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales in his ability as the head of the armed forces. Canadian medal and honor decorated their naval dress uniform during inspection.
A week later, the king planted a red maple tree at the Buckingham Palace to honor Queen Elizabeth’s protection and commitment to the binding between Commonwealth countries.
On 12 March, the king met with representatives of the Canadian Senate.
He presented a formal sword for Gregory Peters, Black Rod (one of the main protocol officers of the Senate). Senate speaker Raymonde Gagane was also present for that meeting.
It was glad to see that Buckingham Palace has just shared the Senate Speaker @Sengagnecanada.Ca and our gentleman form the black rod, our gentleman form of Greg Peters, King Charles IIII. The king presented a black rod with a new formal sword. #Senateofcanada #Canada #Kingcharlesiiiii
(Image or embed)
– Senator Paula Simmons ?? (@Senatorpaulasimons.bsky.Social) March 13, 2025 at 12:41 pm
And on 17 March, the king met with Carney as part of the tornado diplomatic tour of the new Prime Minister of Western Europe.
Some observers also indicated the princess of the red dress of Wales in the Commonwealth Day service of the festival on 10 March, as there was another sign of recognition for Canada.
Soft power and royal family
There are examples of this type of gestures which are known as “soft power”. Unlike the difficult power of military and economic force used by governments, soft power describes any kind of methods that people or group can influence others through culture, personal diplomacy and even fashion.
As the source of a Buckingham Palace commented: “The king knows that the small gestures seem to be sent to send a sure signs of recognition about what is going on all over the world.”
One of the best forms of the monarchy that enhances soft power is through the use of state trips. At the request of the British Prime Minister, world leaders are invited by sovereign to London. The red carpet is rolled out for them, they live and eat in a grand dinner at Buckingham Palace and they often make a speech for Parliament.
These state trips are a way to use their soft power to positively influence diplomatic relations for the royal family.
In February, the British Prime Minister Kir Stmper invited Trump to the king for the British’s second state visit to Britain. So far, no date for the trip has been announced, but the king’s meetings with Trudeau and Ukraine’s Volodimier Zelancesi allegedly harassed Trump.
It remains to be seen how King Charles explained his constitutional role as the king of both the United Kingdom and Canada. Will Trump’s kingdom be only about British interests? Or will Charles use it as an opportunity to solve the concerns of their Canadian subjects?
,Author: Justin Vavak, Royal Historian, McMaster University)
,disclosure statement: Justin Vavak received money from the Council of Social Science and Humanities Research of Canada. Justin Vavak is an advisory board member for Crown’s Study Institute in Canada)
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