The goal of today's visit by Britain's King Charles III to Canada is, it is believed, to show United States President Donald Trump who the sovereign ruler of that country is.
The King is the head of state of Canada, which is a member of the British Commonwealth - a community of 56 countries, mostly former colonies.
Trump's announcements that the US could annex its northern neighbor prompted Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney to say that "Canada has an unwavering defender in its sovereign" and to invite Charles to deliver a speech tomorrow, Tuesday, announcing the government's program for the new composition of Parliament.
It is rare for a monarch to give such a speech. Charles' mother, Queen Elizabeth II (1926-2022), did so only twice during her 70-year reign, the second time in 1977.
Canadians are largely indifferent to the monarchy, but Carney was eager to show the differences between Canada and the U.S. and said the king's visit clearly emphasized Canada's sovereignty.
While the Americans gained independence from Great Britain through the Revolution, Canada remained a British colony until 1867, and since then it has been a constitutional monarchy with a British-style parliamentary system.
The King has recently shown support for Canada, including by wearing Canadian military decorations.
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