Royal watchers shared mixed emotions as they waited to catch a glimpse of King Charles and Queen Camilla touring through downtown Ottawa in a horse-drawn carriage Tuesday — one of the closing moments of a short but symbolic visit.
The King and Queen are set to arrive at Parliament Hill shortly after 10 a.m. in a landau escorted by mounted members of the RCMP.
Beth MacDonald, a royalist who attended King Charles’ coronation two years ago, said she makes a point of attending every royal event she can. This one has added significance, she said, because it’s happening more than a year after the King announced his cancer diagnosis.
“This is going to be, I’ll almost say, bittersweet, because I know it’s probably his last visit over here,” she said.
King Charles made at least 18 official visits to Canada as the Prince of Wales. This is his first trip to Canada since his coronation.
The King is set to read the speech from the throne to open Parliament, making him the first reigning British monarch to do so since his mother Queen Elizabeth II delivered the speech in 1977.
David Greenberg, who was among the crowds lining the parade route, also attended the parade for the previous monarch’s throne speech. He said he was watching history happen.
“It doesn’t happen very often. It may not happen again,” he said.
The royal visit is happening at a critical moment, as U.S. President Donald Trump repeatedly calls for Canada’s annexation and attempts to overturn the rules of global trade with tariffs.
“I think in the long run it’ll do good for Canadians to remember we’re Canadians, and not the 51st state,” MacDonald said. “Maybe this visit and him doing the throne speech will remind Canadians of that.”
Elizabeth Armstrong, another of the royal watchers in the crowd Tuesday morning, called it a “strong but quiet statement from His Majesty.”
The royal couple arrived in Ottawa Monday afternoon. They spent time at a local farmers market and held private audiences with Prime Minister Mark Carney and Gov. Gen. Mary Simon.
The King will lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier later Tuesday.
— with files from Nick Murray
Comments