King Charles III has said Canada is facing unprecedented challenges in a world that’s never been more dangerous as he delivered the Speech of the Throne that opens the Canadian Parliament in Ottawa.

Trump’s repeated threats that the US annex Canada and declare it the 51st state prompted Prime Minister Mark Carney to invite the king to give the speech from the throne outlining his government’s priorities for the new session of Parliament.

The king is the head of state in Canada, which is a member of the Commonwealth.

“We must face reality: since the Second World War, our world has never been more dangerous and unstable. Canada is facing challenges that, in our lifetimes, are unprecedented,” Charles said, speaking in French.

He added that “many Canadians are feeling anxious and worried about the drastically changing world around them.”

It’s rare for the monarch to deliver the Speech from the Throne in Canada. King Charles’ mother, Queen Elizabeth II, did it only twice during her reign; in 1957 and 1977.

“I have always had the greatest admiration for Canada’s unique identity, which is recognised across the world for bravery and sacrifice in defence of national values, and for the diversity and kindness of Canadians,” he said.

King Charles, on his 20th visit to Canada, noted that it has been nearly 70 years since his mother first opened Parliament.

Dramatic changes

“In the time since, Canada has dramatically changed: repatriating its constitution, achieving full independence, and witnessing immense growth. Canada has embraced its British, French, and Indigenous roots, and become a bold, ambitious, innovative country that is bilingual, truly multicultural,” the monarch said.

He said when his late mother opened a new session of Canadian Parliament in 1957, World War II remained a fresh, painful memory and said the Cold War was intensifying.

“Freedom and democracy were under threat,” he said. “Today, Canada faces another critical moment. Democracy, pluralism, the rule of law, self-determination, and freedom are values which Canadians hold dear, and ones which the government is determined to protect.”

Charles also said that the Canadian government “will protect Canada’s sovereignty by rebuilding, rearming, and reinvesting in the Canadian Armed Forces.”

“It will stimulate the Canadian military industry by participating in the ‘ReArm Europe’ plan and will thus contribute, together with European partners, to trans-Atlantic security. And it will invest to strengthen its presence in the North, as this region, which is an integral part of the Canadian nation, faces new threats,” the king said.

The speech isn’t written by the king or his UK advisers as Charles serves as a constitutional monarch. Instead, he read a speech prepared by Canada’s government, but made some remarks of his own.

Canadians are largely indifferent to the monarchy, but Carney has been eager to show the differences between Canada and the United States and the king’s visit clearly underscores Canada’s sovereignty, he said.