Charles lands in Canada for whistlestop visit amid country's tensions with Trump
The King and Queen were greeted by Canadian Mounties and flag waving schoolchildren. The Queen wore a pale pink fringed Anna Valentine coat dress, Chanel shoes and, in a diplomatic nod to her hosts, a diamond maple leaf brooch, which was originally a gift from King George VI to the Queen Mother.
Schoolchildren from Ontario and Quebec joined dignitaries including the Governor General, prime minister Carney and representatives of Canada's three indigenous groups, to welcome the King and Queen before they were taken to a local park to kick off a community event. Senior aides at Buckingham Palace said although the visit was indeed short at just two days, the King would hope its impact would be felt deeply by Canadians amid rising tensions with the United States.
Later today, the King will hold audiences with Canada's first indigenous Governor General, Mary Simon, the King's representative in Canada, Prime Minister Mark Carney, and there will be a short ceremony to swear in Camilla as a member of the Canadian Privy Council.
Charles and Camilla's events will conclude today with a short reception for lieutenant governors from Canada's 10 provinces and the territorial commissioners from the three territories.
The trip comes in the wake of verbal aggression from US President Donald Trump, who claimed that Canada should become the 51st state of America, prompting outrage. When new when Canadian PM Mr Carney met Trump at the White House in the days after his election victory last month, he told him in no uncertain terms Canada is "not for sale".
However, the unprecedented trip, which will be Charles' first to Canada as King, will also see him walk a diplomatic tightrope. He faces the difficult task of balancing his duties as Canada's head of state and his role in Keir Starmer's attempt at maintaining strong relations between the UK and the US.
The centrepiece of the trip to Canada will be tomorrow (Tuesday) when Charles and Camilla will attend the state opening of parliament, similar to the UK parliament's opening ceremony but without the formality or royal regalia found in Britain. They will travel to the state openingin the 1902 State Landau carriage, while Charles will sit on a throne carved from a walnut tree from Windsor Great Park.
The late Queen was the first sovereign to deliver a speech at the state opening of the Canadian parliament in October 1957, her first visit to the country as head of state.
During their two-day trip, Charles will become only the second monarch, after Queen Elizabeth II, to attend the state opening of Canada's parliament and deliver the speech setting out the government's legislative agenda. Charles will be delivering the words of the Canadian government, similar to a UK State opening of parliament, but commentators will be looking for any veiled references to Trump.
The King istravelling with his wife less than a month after former Bank of England governor Mark Carney's Liberal Party election victory, fuelled in part by its opposition to the US leader.
Mr Carney's rival, populist Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre, was in the lead until Mr Trump took aim at Canada with a trade war and threats to annex the country as the 51st state, comments denounced by the ex-governor. A Buckingham Palace spokesperson commenting about the trip has said: "The King and Queen are very much looking forward to the programme, mindful that it is a short visit but hopefully an impactful one."
Steven Guilbeault, Canada's minister of identity and culture, said: "His Majesty's delivery of the Speech from the Throne to open the 45th Parliament is a momentous occasion, one that brings Canadians together in celebration of our rich history, our democracy and the institutions that serve us all.
"This visit offers an opportunity to showcase the special relationship between Canada and the Crown, while also highlighting the strength, diversity and unity that define us on the world stage."
As the royals get back to their normal duties after a difficult year, the Mirror has launched its very own Royal WhatsApp community where you'll get all the latest news on the UK's most famous family.
We'll send you the latest breaking updates and exclusives all directly to your phone. Users must download or already have WhatsApp on their phones to join in.
All you have to do to join is , select 'Join Chat' and you're in! We may also send you stories from other titles across the Reach group.
We will also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose Exit group. If you're curious, you can read our .
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business News Wales
2 hours ago
- Business News Wales
Welsh Secretary Heads to US and Canada to Boost Trade and Investment
Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens is travelling to the United States and Canada on a mission to boost trade and investment in Wales. The two countries are among the most significant markets for Welsh exports, with goods and services worth over £2 billion destined for the US and Canada each year. Trade and investment between Wales and North America supports over 50,000 Welsh jobs. The visit follows the signing of the UK's economic prosperity deal with the US in May. Car manufacturer Aston Martin, which has a base in St Athan in the Vale of Glamorgan employing at least 600 people, resumed exports to the United States following the successful trade deal. The Welsh Secretary will visit the new Aston Martin showroom in New York City and meet executives. Jo Stevens' visit to North America comes after the UK Government's publication of its Industrial Strategy and aims to highlight Wales as a key destination for inward investment into the UK. During the visit the Welsh Secretary will raise awareness of this December's Investment Summit in Wales, encouraging North American business leaders and investors to participate in the event. Driving investment into Wales is the Welsh Secretary's primary goal, with high profile business facing events and roundtable meetings with industry leaders and investors in Toronto and New York. Her programme includes: Hosting a reception for business at Aston Martin's new showroom in New York City Meeting key Canadian businesses with an interest in Wales – including from manufacturing and other sectors – at a roundtable meeting in Toronto. A business breakfast with investors in sport real estate in the UK in New York. Speaking ahead of the visit, Secretary of State for Wales Jo Stevens said: 'There are strong and important economic and cultural ties between Wales and North America and it is fantastic to be able to promote these and help strengthen them further. 'The UK Government has made economic growth our key mission and our new trade deal with the United States delivers fantastic benefits for our key businesses like Aston Martin and for working people across Wales. 'I want to build on this progress and while I am in the USA and Canada I will be discussing further opportunities for investment in Wales with companies like Aston Martin. 'My message is very clear – Wales is open for business.' Deputy Trade Commissioner for North America Alan Gogbashian said: 'From sports economy firms to the automotive industry, Wales plays a key role in the UK economy, and has strong trade and investment ties with Canada and the United States. 'It's fantastic to host the Secretary of State for Wales in New York and Toronto this week to engage with current transatlantic businesses including Aston Martin, and to connect with potential investors ahead of the Investment Summit in Wales later this year.' The Welsh Secretary's itinerary also includes a reception in Toronto with business and cultural groups with interests in Wales and meetings with individual investors in Wales like Vale Mining.
Reuters
6 hours ago
- Reuters
US appeals court revives antitrust lawsuit over Puerto Rican baseball league
July 22 (Reuters) - Puerto Rico's top baseball league must face claims that it conspired to suppress competition in the popular sport on the island, home to many current and former stars of Major League Baseball, a federal appeals court ruled. The 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in a ruling, opens new tab on Monday revived part of a lawsuit that was filed in 2022 against the league and others by a former owner-operator of a franchise in Puerto Rico's professional baseball league, Liga de Béisbol Profesional de Puerto Rico. The Boston-based appeals court, which hears federal cases from Puerto Rico, said that former owner Thomas Axon could pursue a narrowed antitrust and civil rights lawsuit against the league and others. The appeals court upheld the dismissal of U.S. federal antitrust claims, but allowed antitrust and fair competition claims under Puerto Rican laws. In a statement, Winston & Strawn's Jeffrey Kessler, a lead attorney for the plaintiffs, welcomed the 1st Circuit's order allowing the case to proceed and said they were weighing their options over the dismissal of the federal antitrust allegations. Francisco Colón-Ramírez, a lawyer for the baseball league, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Axon in the lawsuit said rival teams had worked to block his efforts in 2019 to restore his franchise through major new broadcast initiatives, better salaries, enhanced sponsorships and expanded merchandising. He alleged that the baseball league seized his investor-operator interest without compensation or due process, and moved to box him out of the league. The league and other defendants have denied any wrongdoing. In dismissing the lawsuit, U.S. District Judge William Young in 2023 pointed to the 'baseball exemption' of federal antitrust law. The U.S. Supreme Court in a 1922 case concluded antitrust law does not apply to the business of baseball. In the latest in a string of legal challenges involving the baseball exemption, Axon's lawyers argued it only applies to Major League Baseball and its direct affiliates, and not to the Puerto Rican league. Young disagreed. The 1st Circuit panel — Chief Judge Barron, joined by Circuit Judges O. Rogeriee Thompson and Gustavo Gelpí — suggested the exemption is out of touch with the modern realities of baseball. But the Supreme Court, the panel said, has declined so far to overrule it. The case is Cangrejeros de Santurce Baseball Club LLC et al v. Liga de Béisbol Profesional de Puerto Rico Inc et al, 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, No. 23-1589. For plaintiffs: Jeffrey Kessler of Winston & Strawn For defendants: Francisco Colón-Ramírez of Colón Ramírez Read more: National Hockey League, Canadian hockey clubs defeat US class action US judge approves NCAA baseball coaches' $49 million settlement Bipartisan state coalition backs challenge to MLB's antitrust immunity
The Herald Scotland
10 hours ago
- The Herald Scotland
Scots to ‘foot the bill' for Sizewell C, SNP claims
Mr Miliband said the charge would be limited to an average of around £1 per month. The SNP-led Scottish Government has long been against new nuclear power and has said it would block plans north of the border through the devolved planning system. 16 years ago I identified Sizewell as a site for new nuclear power. Today I am delighted that Sizewell C has finally been given the green light. We're delivering the biggest nuclear building programme in a generation 👇 — Ed Miliband (@Ed_Miliband) July 22, 2025 Speaking in the wake of the announcement, the SNP's energy spokesman at Westminster Graham Leadbitter said nuclear power was 'extortionate, takes decades to build and the toxic waste is a risk to local communities'. 'Just months ago, the Labour Government rubbished the £38 billion figure for Sizewell C, yet today Ed Miliband snuck out a statement that confirmed they've lost control of this project before spades are even in the ground,' he said. 'To make matters worse, Scots will be left to foot the bill with a levy on energy bills – you simply couldn't make it up, yet Anas Sarwar and Scottish Labour back this extortionate and wasteful plan that energy-rich Scotland will pay for through the nose.' Mr Leadbitter also hit out at the spending of the UK Government south of the border compared to Scotland, pointing to the closure of the Grangemouth refinery with the loss of 400 jobs. 'Be it Prax refinery, British Steel or Sizewell C, when it comes to projects south of the border it seems the pot of cash never runs out,' the SNP MP said. 'Meanwhile, Grangemouth has been shut down and Westminster's fiscal regime has ruined Scottish energy jobs – Scotland isn't just an afterthought, it's barely a thought at all. 'It is absurd that energy-rich Scotland is home to fuel-poor Scots and that while energy bills go up, Scottish energy jobs are going down – that's directly as a consequence of Westminster policy, and the further squandering of cash on expensive nuclear won't change that.' Grangemouth's closure was lambasted by the SNP (Andrew Milligan/PA) But Mr Miliband talked up the scale and ambition of the project as he announced it, with the UK Government taking a near-45% stake. 'It is time to do big things and build big projects in this country again – and today we announce an investment that will provide clean, homegrown power to millions of homes for generations to come,' he said. 'This Government is making the investment needed to deliver a new golden age of nuclear, so we can end delays and free us from the ravages of the global fossil fuel markets to bring bills down for good.' New Sizewell C investors include Canadian investment fund La Caisse with 20%, British Gas owner Centrica with 15%, and Amber Infrastructure with an initial 7.6%. It comes alongside French energy giant EDF announcing earlier this month it was taking a 12.5% stake – lower than its previously stated 16.2% ownership. The total investment, which is split between equity funding from investors and debt financing, exceeds the target construction cost of £38 billion, therefore acting as a buffer in case costs overrun.
