Prime Minister Mark Carney announced that King Charles III will open Parliament when it resumes later this month with the 45th Canadian government. He will also be the one delivering the speech from the throne.
“Later this month, Canada will have the privilege of welcoming Their Majesties The King and Queen to Canada — where His Majesty King Charles III will deliver Canada’s speech from the throne,” said Carney in a post to X. “This historic honour matches the weight of our times.”
The visit was confirmed in a social media post by Buckingham Palace which said that the King and Queen would come to Canada for an official visit from May 26 to 27.
It marks the first time that a sovereign has opened a new Parliament since 1957 when Queen Elizabeth II opened that year’s first session.
Additionally, she opened the third session of the 30th Parliament in 1977.
Following Queen Elizabeth II’s death, her son King Charles III became the new head of state in Canada, which is a member of the Commonwealth– a group of nations comprised of former British colonies and territories.
Upon opening the Parliament, King Charles III will also deliver the speech from the throne, outlining what the Carney government has planned with its immediate priorities as well as its longer-term goals.
Typically, the throne speech is delivered by the Governor General on behalf of the Crown.
The Liberals are projected to hold 168 seats following Monday’s election, forming a minority government.
There are two ridings which are currently undergoing a recount.
The Conservatives formed the Official Opposition with a projected 144 seats, while the Bloc Quebecois won 23.
Both the NDP and Green Party lost their official status after failing to acquire the 12 minimum seats required, instead getting seven and one, respectively.
Parliament’s return will also see the election of a new House Speaker.
King Charles III has visited Canada many times before, most recently in 2022 to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II. He also came to Canada in 2017, 2014 and 2012.
According to the Government of Canada, the role of the monarch is to “unite Canadians and give a collective sense of belonging to our country.”