How the historic visit of King Charles to Canada could turn him into a ''protective shield'' for the country

Charles III is about to make his first visit to Canada as the country’s king and it comes at a crucial time for the nation.

The country’s new Prime Minister, Mark Carney, has spoken out sharply after US President Donald Trump made very public comments about Canada becoming the ”51st State”.

Now, a leading royal journalist says that the visit of King Charles to Canada could turn the Monarch into a ”protective shield” for the country.

Speaking on True Royalty TV’s ‘The Royal Beat’, Newsweek’s Chief Royal Correspondent, Jack Royston, says the trip to Canada is a gear change in The King’s public position. In recent months, Charles has shown gentle backing through gestures such as wearing his Canadian medals to a major military event.

However, during the brief visit, King Charles will deliver the speech from the throne as Canada’s parliament is opened following recent elections. It’s rare for the Monarch to give the speech – Queen Elizabeth II only did it twice in her 70 year reign. It will take place before an historic State Visit by US President Donald Trump to the UK – King Charles III’s personal invitation was delivered in the White House by the Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer.

Jack Royston tells ‘The Royal Beat’ that ”Charles has been trying to make these subtle shows of support for Canada, you know, they have been there but they’ve just been so much more subtle than Starmer’s very theatrical pulling out of the letter. So this visit to Canada is actually a moment when the King can be far less subtle, far more direct and actually appear in person, and he is Canada’s protective shield.”

Prince William’s vision for the Monarchy is also under the spotlight in the show, presented by Kate Thornton. The heir to the throne’s visit this week to Street Soccer Scotland is debated along with the pattern it’s setting for William and Catherine’s work. Kate Mansey, Royal Editor for The Times, tells the programme that this trip shows the ambitions of the Prince of Wales who, she says ”wants to come away and think, ‘I’ve made a difference there, there’s money that’s gone into that community centre or there’s something that’s happened because I went there’, rather than just showing up and shaking some hands. So that’s quite a radical departure, really, from what The King does, or what The Late Queen did.”

‘The Royal Beat’, presented by Kate Thornton, is available to watch now on True Royalty TV.