King Charles III used a significant speech in Canada’s parliament on Tuesday to underscore the country’s sovereignty following pressure from US President Donald Trump.

The King says a "new economic and security relationship" between Canada and the US will "deliver transformational benefits for both sovereign nations".

Trump’s repeated suggestion that the U.S. annex Canada prompted Prime Minister Mark Carney to invite Charles to give the speech from the throne outlining his governments priorities for the new session of Parliament. The king is the head of state in Canada, which is a member of the Commonwealth of former colonies.

Get all the news you need in your inbox each morning. Following an invitation from Carney, Charles is set to open parliament on May 27, the first time a British monarch has carried out the duty since his mother,

When Starmer himself visited the White House in February, hunting for a trade deal, his perfunctory gift was an invitation from the King for Trump, who described Charles as a “beautiful man, a wonderful man.” Having observed Trump's taste for all things gold and royal, Carney used Charles to send a clear signal to Trump: the King is with us.

One of the most important stories to Indigenous people across B.C.'s West Coast has been commemorated in a new key gifted to King Charles to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Canada House in London. It was created by Ts'msyen artist Morgan Asoyuf, who took the opportunity to elevate an important story from her home territory in Prince Rupert, B.C.