Here are some photos from King Charles and Queen Camilla’s “whirlwind” 24-hour trip to Canada this week. They arrived mid-afternoon on Monday and left Tuesday afternoon, after Charles addressed Canada’s Parliament. Before I get into Charles’s speech and what it all meant, let’s take a moment and pay attention to Queen Sidechick, the Half In The Bag Consort. Soon after Charles dropped a “ceremonial puck for a street hockey game,” Charles and Camilla were ushered into a private meeting with various Canadian officials. It was there where Camilla was “sworn in” as a member of the King’s Canadian Privy Council. Meaning, Camilla is officially one of her husband’s top advisors on Canada? It feels like the kind of thing Charles demanded before he agreed to visit Canada for 24 hours. WWD also had some info about Camilla’s ensemble on Tuesday:
As for her accessories, Queen Camilla styled her three-strand pearl necklace with a diamond clasp at the center and the Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada brooch, which holds a significant symbolic meaning, per Steven Stone jewelry expert Maxwell Stone.
“The Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada brooch is a meaningful and distinguished piece of royal jewelery, symbolizing her deep and enduring association with the regiment,” Stone said in a statement to WWD, via email. “Crafted in silver and embellished with diamonds, it’s adorned with the regiment’s iconic bugle horn cap badge. The brooch was presented to her in 2012 by General Sir Patrick Sanders, then Colonel Commandant of The Rifles, to mark her appointment as colonel-in-chief,” Stone said.
“Since then, Queen Camilla has worn it on numerous ceremonial occasions, including during official visits to Canada. I’d estimate it to be worth around £100,000.” (100,000 pounds equals roughly $135,095.) Queen Camilla has an extensive jewelry collection, often wearing brooches for particular public royal engagements.
I love the backstories on some of QEII’s brooches, sometimes they’re perfectly insane – like “such-and-such military regiment decided to blow $100K on diamonds for QEII one year.” Like, what? Why were military units commissioning diamond brooches for QEII? Oh well. On Monday, Camilla wore a much more familiar piece of Royal Collection jewelry: the Queen Mum’s iconic diamond maple-leaf brooch.
As for Charles’s speech… PM Mark Carney really rolled out the red carpet for them. They arrived in a landau carriage, they were escorted by Mounties, they had a guard of honor and more. Charles spoke in English and French and gave a pretty strong pep talk to Canadians, while also giving Carney respect for the way he was handling Trump. The Daily Beast said that Charles “humiliated Trump.” One, it doesn’t take much to humiliate that hideous cheeto. Two, I don’t think Charles was actually trying to humiliate anyone, nor was that the goal of the Canadian speechwriters. I think it was more like I said – a pep talk, mostly about how Canadians need to stand strong and united against the methlab in the basement.
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Cover Images.
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- Ottawa, Canada, 27 May 2025: Britain’s King Charles III and Queen Camilla arrive at the Senate building in Ottawa for the state opening of the Canadian Parliament.,Image: 1003870403, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: *** NO UK USE FOR 48 HRS ***, Model Release: no, Credit line: Ian Vogler/Avalon
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- Ottawa, Canada, 27 May 2025: Britain’s King Charles III and Queen Camilla arrive at the Senate building in Ottawa for the state opening of the Canadian Parliament.,Image: 1003870420, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: *** NO UK USE FOR 48 HRS ***, Model Release: no, Credit line: Ian Vogler/Avalon
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- – NMA POOL Ottawa Canada Britain’s Charles III , Queen Camilla leave Canada at the end of a visit . The king attended the state opening of Parliament today,Image: 1003897977, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: *** NO UK USE FOR 48 HRS ***, Model Release: no, Credit line: Ian Vogler/Avalon
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- – NMA POOL Ottawa Canada Britain’s Charles III , Queen Camilla leave Canada at the end of a visit . The king attended the state opening of Parliament today,Image: 1003898001, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: *** NO UK USE FOR 48 HRS ***, Model Release: no, Credit line: Ian Vogler/Avalon
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- King Charles III and Queen Camilla as they arrive at Ottawa Airport for their two-day visit to Canada. Featuring: King Charles III and Queen Camilla Where: Ottawa, Canada When: 26 May 2025 Credit: PA Images/INSTARimages **NORTH AMERICA RIGHTS ONLY**
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- King Charles III holds an audience with Prime Minister of Canada Mark Carney at Rideau Hall, Ottawa, as part of his two-day visit to Canada. Featuring: King Charles III holds an audience with Prime Minister of Canada Mark Carney Where: Ottawa, Canada When: 26 May 2025 Credit: PA Images/INSTARimages **NORTH AMERICA RIGHTS ONLY**
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- King Charles III and Queen Camilla during a visit to a community event at Lansdowne Park in Ottawa, showcasing cultural heritage and diversity of Canada, as part of their two-day visit to Canada. Featuring: King Charles III and Queen Camilla Where: Ottawa, Canada When: 26 May 2025 Credit: PA Images/INSTARimages **NORTH AMERICA RIGHTS ONLY**
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- King Charles III and Queen Camilla meet with Mark Carney, Prime Minister of Canada and his wife Diana Fox Carney at Rideau Hall, Ottawa, as part of his two-day visit to Canada. Featuring: King Charles III and Queen Camilla meet with Mark Carney, Prime Minister of Canada and his wife Diana Fox Carney Where: Ottawa, Canada When: 26 May 2025 Credit: PA Images/INSTARimages **NORTH AMERICA RIGHTS ONLY**
I wonder how much of that jewelry is considered personal property that Charles has given or will leave to Cam. Of course, there are supposed to be rules about what stays in the crown collection which is supposedly only in the monarch’s trust, but I’m sure that isn’t strictly followed.
I’m will to bet that Camilla ransacks the vault on the way out the door. Kate will never get her hands on some of the good stuff.
Heck, I’m betting Camilla’s already made off with stuff, with Charles’s okay. Because they are both that greedy, petty and spiteful.
Charles purchased many jewels for Camilla even some of the keppels estate. Alice k being Camilla great grandmother how come she does not wear those
She wore them for years but this is her window to wear the good stuff.
By the look of him that will be his last hurrah to Canada.
I actually thought he looked ok here Cassie. Prob had a blood transfusion for the trip
that was the first thing I said. He had a transfusion, got tanked up, so to speak. He looked and sounded pretty good. I’m used to his pinched, nasally whine but his voice was clear, even though his French could have used some work.
we’ve always heard that Charles is fluent in French but as a native speaker myself, uhh..nope. neither in his delivery nor his pronunciation
He was okay but the r’s weren’t rolling. The queen was better in French.
That said William is god awful. Like hurt your ears bad French.
When Cain went to Jamaica they fired him, now the representatives in Quebec are calling for breaking from the Crown.
Cowmilla is a case of you can’t make a silk pillow out of a sow’s ear, she is classless, rude and thinks she is all that.
French-Canadians are loud about not wanting the king. The rest of Canada does not really like him. In the latest pool, 60% of Canadians (2000 respondents) gave a nay to kc as head of state. Our pool are not gov pool. The selected respondents are representatives of the Canadian society.
Canada will remove the monarchy when they can sort out the issue with the crown treaties. But right now there isn’t the political will to do that especially when the orange idiot is threatening sovereignty.
Canada can probably move to an Irish style system with a ceremonial president.
Canadians outside of Quebec aren’t really pro monarchy but more like “eh whatever”.
I also think they made Charles read the speech to show the Canadians that he’s on their side after inviting Trump for a second state visit to the UK.
Nobody made Charles do anything. He was invited and he accepted.
Chuckles the 3rd isn’t on Canadians side, just his side of the colonized pocket-book. He’s still placating the orange goblin with a state visit which are no different than the meetings with the Duke of Windsor (Edward) and Hitler. Different era, same agenda.
Carney wrote that throne speech with his PMO. Charles was not in control here. His symbolic power as head of state was leveraged by Carney for the benefit of Canadians.
Starmer is the one kowtowing to orange one. And I suspect he will slow that down after the G7 in Alberta in a few weeks.
Charles wasn’t made to read it, he was invited and graciously accepted. @JRT — you don’t seem to grasp that Charles is the HEAD OF STATE of Canada. As such, and as Canada is part of the Commonwealth, it makes all the sense in the world to have our HEAD OF STATE make the throne speech at such a politically unstable time. Nor is he placating Trump — it’s part of every world leader’s JOB to have diplomatic relations with most countries’ leaders, even those with whom we have serious political differences. Comparing Charles to Edward VIII is like comparing a bullet to an atom bomb. Edward VIII was openly encouraging appeasement with the Nazis and approved Hitler’s threats to bomb London to smithereens because he promised to put him back on the throne. He was photographed on numerous occasions consorting with prominent Nazi members and business leaders in the lead-up to the war (Wallis Simpson apparently had an affair with Joachim von Ribbentrop while he held a diplomatic job in London). It is not the same agenda AT ALL.
Just minding my own business, enjoying an afternoon pint on my mini break to Manchester and then I read the words, Half In The Bag Consort. Thanks Kaiser, for sending my drink up my nose 🤣🤣
She can wear all the jewelry in the world and it wouldn’t change a thing about her inside ugliness… that’s all I can see when I look at her!
Jimmy Kimmel made fun of Charles in Canada. I am waiting for the BM’s headline “Jimmy Kimmel roasts King Charles”. I probably have to wait a looooooong time for this to happen
Charles did his job. He was asked by the Canadian pm to open parliament and read a speech (not written by Charles but by the Canadian PM and his team) as the Head of State. Nobody was humiliated and this is unlikely to make any difference to Trump in the grand scheme of things. However, Charles did his job which is more than William is capable of if props for actually fulfilling his role. I’m sure manyCanadians appreciated it.
Trump and huevo are pals. All yrump has to do is flatter huevo. Charles does do the appearances.
I’m not a fan of the Royal family, to put it mildly. But yesterday’s Throne Speech was a big success in Canada and it highlights how monarchy can be useful. Many people I know watched it and were genuinely affected by it. It’s too bad they’re such rotten people. But no doubt about it, it was a huge win for Charles.
Her spin was that she never wanted any of this. Really awful hat.
Oh she never really wanted all of this 🙄
Actions, Rottweiler, actions. She covers herself in all sorts of jewellery.
If she never did, she’d have done what Prince Philip’s mother did and entered a convent.
Charles should start with his own household that he broke.and stop his bad behavior with harry and meghan.
@Alex Can
Ake this speech was written by the Prime Minister of Canada, i.e. his people. They are the ones who should be congratulated. Karol only read it.
Yeah I know the speech was written by the government. It always is. But there were two things that made it a “success” — the fact it’s such a rare thing for the monarch to open parliament and give the throne speech, which highlights Canada’s importance at this moment in history and also showing to the world how different our country is from the U.S. The second thing that was actually kind of shocking, but in a good way, was that the friggin king (!) did a land acknowledgement. I’m pretty sure it was a first, acknowledging that Canada is founded on unceded indigenous lands.
Charles and PM Carny go way back to his days heading the Bank of England, they are friends. BTW Carney’s brother is the COO of Kensington Palace. The speech is actually written by the sitting cabinet and PM, and I’m sure Charles had some input into it as well as final approval, he didn’t “only read it”. Do some research before making such ill-informed and snarky comments.
Yes the land acknowledgment by a monarch for the land they stole from indigenous people is actually pretty historic.
Tessa, your comment is right on point.
The color of her outfit is dreadful, funereal really, and what a ludicrous hat! ITA he looks on his last legs.
I wish the US-ians on this site would stop undervaluing the importance of what was said, and by whom it was said. To Canadians, this was very important. HIs presence, the speech, yes even the puck drop, went over very, very well. Hate the royals all you want (and I am there with you), but overall, this whole visit was a win.
Wether or not the visit was a win depends on the goal. All the media presenting has suggested the goal was solely directed at the US and Trump in which case this visit was a failure from inception and fully expect another round of comments about making Canada the 51st state.
I think it makes sense to say that it does depend on the goal. For now, I think trump isn’t still talking about Canada becoming the 51st state so yay? Ugh, I hate him. Will it stay that way? Or will trump go off again? Remains to be seen. I lean towards the latter bc he’s a pos. But my understanding was that Trump had mostly stoped that talk anyways after meeting with carney. So, the visit and speech from Charles has just felt like an add-on. To cement what had already happened and remind Trump that the monarchy is connected to Canada. Even though Trump had already backed off after the initial meeting with carney. But I may be misunderstanding. It just seems like more of a win for carney than Charles.
I don’t think it needs to be a win for Charles. I don’t think he had a goal like that. He came and fulfilled a request, and did so under the understanding that it is a request.
For Canada, it signalled they do have some traditions that are different from the USA. I think it could be a message to Americans in general, not just Trump. Other countries have their own histories and traditions that they appeal to, and it might be unwise to be dismissive of that.
@Lauren: The goal was not solely directed at Americans. What it did highlight is the value Canada has on the world stage, the strength of our multicultural society, respect for our First Nations peoples and our very “Canadianness”. The visit was not a failure, in fact it drew the country together. Media tends to over-exaggerate stuff but after watching and reading the speech I thought it was an even-handed, thorough look at Canada’s strengths and how proud ALL Canadians should be without even making the vaguest reference to Cheetolini.
sorry — we do tend to think everything revolves around us! Ironic since most of the Royal comments come from Americans and we don’t have a horse in the race.
But I so enjoy commenting on the horse that has saddled herself to Charles.
@Quite
nothing wrong with a useful hobby 🙂
@Danbury
The visit was a good move, but you are definitely overestimating Charles. Charles is only interested in Charles. He doesn’t really have anything against Trump, when Trump was wreaking global havoc, he invited him personally to give him a big red carpet show. It was only the widespread criticism, protests and demand to cancel the visit that made him realize that he had shot himself in the foot and was trying to get out of it. The Prime Minister of Canada did him a favor by inviting him to read the government message and in the current political situation, it was a good move – Canada shows, we are not alone. Charles waited a long time for his crown and knows that he will not wear it for long, he also knows that his visits go unnoticed and without the royal pomp he dreams of and remembers from Elizabeth’s trips. Visiting parliaments (Italy, Canada) allows him to avoid waving at empty streets, while at the same time ensuring media interest and coverage of his speeches. In this way, he has what he wants.
Typically it’s the Governor General who reads the speech from the throne so this was actually a bigger and more important deal than you’re intimating. This wasn’t a self-aggrandizing ploy by Charles, nor was it a deliberate attempt to avoid waving at empty streets. This was ensuring that the “media got the message” (to paraphrase Marshall McLuhan) loud and clear that Canada is a sovereign country with its own constitution, it welcomes immigrants who have helped build this great country, all without taking direct aim at Trump. It wasn’t a self-serving “get what he wants” tour, it was standing up for and defending Canada and Canadians in the face of an arrogant, brainless and dangerous administration in the basement meth lab that America has become. All this while battling cancer.
@Jaded
I didn’t write that Charles calculated the trip to Canada, only that the Prime Minister’s invitation came at the perfect time for him.
Your statement that it was Charles’s show that he stands on Canada’s side is wishful thinking. Yes, that’s what it was supposed to serve, but above all it was an opportunity to improve Charles’s image, who somehow didn’t stand on Canada’s side when Trump declared Canada the 51st State of the USA, but sent him an official invitation and prepared a ceremonial reception with great pomp for Trump in Great Britain, and William ran after him begging for attention.
Doesn’t that bother you?
It is precisely because of such a “short memory” and erasing inconvenient facts that the royals still manage to effectively deceive the public and insinuate actions and intentions that are not there, although they should be.
Of course it’s good that Charles was there, at least they will stop talking about being friends with Trump, which of course still happens, but under the table.
The royals are far from democracy, they are impressed by dictators. Accepting millions from the Bin Laden family right after the attack wasn’t a problem for them, only that it was found out.
@KoRAR — clearly you’re not Canadian and don’t understand the significance of the throne speech opening a new Parliament and welcoming a new PM. Charles, like him or not, is our head of state and as such it is expected that he will appear regularly for historically important events like this. I am Canadian and this is not wishful thinking, it is Canada’s sovereign right to have Charles appear for these kinds of significant events. It is, however, NOT Charles’s responsibility to jump into the frey of Cheeto suggesting, not DECLARING, Canada as the potential 51st state. The King’s role is STRICTLY apolitical, and he cannot take sides in another country’s political bickering, even a commonwealth country, his role is soft diplomacy. It was not Carney’s sole decision to invite Charles to give the throne speech, it was the decision of the sitting cabinet, the Governor General and the PM. I have no idea how you came to the conclusion that his trip to Canada was merely a chimera, or a deliberate ploy to gain public admiration. Furthermore, Charles didn’t accept “millions” from Bin Laden’s family, it was a charitable donation of $1 million to the Prince of Wales’s Charitable Fund by two of Osama Bin Laden’s half-brothers several years after he was killed, and was done with full due diligence. BTW, Bin Laden was disowned by his entire family in 1994 and there is no proof that his half-brothers had links to his activities.
And no, I don’t give a shit about William “running after” Trump, he’s a lazy, stupid nothingburger and has nothing to do with Canada’s relationship with the monarch. If there’s anything he will be famous for some day it will be bringing about the collapse of the British monarchy as we currently know it, and I can’t wait for that to happen.
Finally, let it be known that I am no fan of the royal family and am firmly anti-monarchy, but having our HEAD OF STATE stand up for Canada at a time like this was a boss move.
Thank you @jaded for reply so much better than I could. Well said
Perhaps I’m imagining something, but it seems to me that Charles is wearing padding of some sort on his torso – and I doubt it’s a bulletproof vest.
The arms of his suit jackets are obviously too large for his frame and I’m considering it’s a ploy to hide his weight loss. He is not a well man.
WTAF is that over baked blue meringue on the consort’s head
Camilla and Kate both look for the cameras and smile at them.
Whatever I may think about the royals, there is no doubt that Charles showed up and did this job. It bought attention to the fact that this was no ordinary opening of Parliament.
Anyone else catch that PM Carney’s brother is the COO of Kensington Palace? CBC mentioned it a few times.
He laid out the policy objectives of the current government. The term “pep talk” might be oversimplifying things. The speech was full of policy goals that the government is promising to fulfil.
It was a speech designed for the Prime Minister filtered through the presence of the King. I wouldn’t downgrade it to a pep talk.
Small detail – look closely at the seat he is sitting in while reading this speech. It still has his mom’s insignia on it. Right over his head. “Speech from the Throne”. Whose throne? QE2! Love that for him.
🤭 oh dear.
Don’t be fooled by the so called people around King Chucky’s visit. I saw a video of his motorcade going down a quiet Ottawa street in a neighborhood with homes with front porches and sidewalks. No one was on the sidewalk waving to them and there was only one couple of their front porch observing them. Most Canadians know what this was a middle finger to the Rump.
I wouldn’t read too much into whether there were crowds on the street or not. It was the middle of a work day. There were people out meeting and greeting in venues where they’d actually see them as opposed to their car. That said nothing like the crowds the younger royals would probably have attracted. Chuckles isn’t exactly popular here, even if most Canadians appreciated the gesture of him coming over for the opening of parliament.
There was a fair amount of people outside of the buildings where it was held. Maybe not quite as much as for Canada Day celebrations but the streets of Ottawa normally aren’t that packed during the day.
The throne was made in 2017 and so the insignia used is for the monarch at the time.
Turn the pearls around. That clunky clasp competing with the brooch is a no.
Listening to the news yesterday the message from the prime minister’s office is, in my words, we have a busy agenda, we’re looking forward, we’re not going to dignify it with a response. Trump probably will play that card again but the prime minister won’t give it any attention, at least publicly
I watched the footage of the RCAF plane leaving. Somber. Maybe Charles’s will can override his body but he’s not making it back for another visit, is he?
I thought Charles did really well. I haven’t heard him speak for a long time, and I enjoyed the speech. Even if his French wasn’t perfect, I can’t imagine William being able to handle that situation as well as his Dad. I did worry at the beginning when he struggled to turn the first page with his “sausage fingers”, but I noticed he’d put a finger under the next page as he was reading so it wouldn’t happen again. I’m not a fan of Charles but as a Canadian I thought the visit was both symbolic & historic.
He said what needed to be said.
I must say that Carlo is not my favorite at all, but when he came to Italy he gave a speech that deserved applause, truly excellent. I don’t know if the credit goes to him or to some official, in fact it is obvious that officials are taking care of this, but perhaps he will also have a hand in it.
I saw a little live footage of them walking along and greeting people. She was right behind him all the time, I mean ridiculously so. And then when he didn’t go fast enough, she literally jabbed him in the back to make him move. She’s a strange woman, not a natural at meeting people at all. I think she loves the wealth but thinks ordinary people are beneath her interest or time.
I saw that vid. But it actually looked like Charles was having a moment of spacing out? He stopped in front of a soldier and looked at him and just stayed there staring, not talking. It looked kind of bizarre, but idk maybe it wasn’t. My photo assumption was that she had to go and get them to keep him on track. Bc something was off.
Sorry, I’m wrong. Charles was talking to the guard from what I can tell. But Camilla did have to go back.
Video and photos of the Canada trip highlited the great seriousness of Charles’ ongoing illness but did nothing to dim the king’s bright smile at his reception.
There was no win or lose with America’s mentally ill president.
By standing with freedom, Charles is showing American history that his nation and ancient family align with our better angels as demons cavort in Washington.
Trump, day in and day out, looks like a crazy lunatic. He never has one day of normalcy or personal dignity. So contemplating whether Charles, Carney, or Canada “won” is strange to me. Trump will always look like a loser next to anyone else. He’s too…there are no words.
Sadly, I’d argue that Trump is one and doesn’t just look like one. I think the idea of this is a “win” sort of phrasing may be due to the fact that royal reporting is often crouched in those types of phrases. Did Charles win? Did William have a win? It was a win for so and so bc of so and so.
While Charles did what he was supposed to do he did work the crowds and so for him it was a win.
Carney is the one who orchestrated this and deserves the most credit.
American here. Look at Camilla’s pearly whites paid for by the British public. She’s the Cheshire Cat. Chuck’s nose hangs too low over our northern border. Not for want of what of what he sees, but for want of broader influence.
I didn’t think anyone could be as god-forsaken as Trump. But Chuck is. His whole existence is myth. Trump doesn’t hide how evil he is, he relishes it. It’s his “super power”.
There has been just one anointed king in all of history.
Canadian here — care of my pearly whites is mostly paid for by our tax dollars. My cancer treatments for the past year and a half have been FREE. Charles has nothing to do with the meth lab that has become America. There is nobody more evil, more destructive and more criminal than Trump right now, he and his ass-kissers are taking down your country, cozying up to Putin and Saudi Arabian royalty. Show some effing respect — as much as we don’t agree with the wanton wealth of the BRF, Charles is our HEAD OF STATE and his speech opening our new Parliament was welcome relief from the constant barrange of hate coming from your depraved excuse of a human being who is now president and his stupid MAGA worshippers. What he has isn’t a super-power, it’s a vicious, greedy, fascist grab for dictatorship. Good luck America, you’re going to need it.
I would like to be escorted by Mounties. I think I could put up with that. No double-entendre intended. 😊 Camilla looks especially delighted here, I’m just saying. And you know how they say that spouses start looking like each other? Charlie has started looking messy like his “Queen Side chick, the Half In The Bag Consort”. That suit looks so ill-fitting and frumpy. Yes, I know he has been sick and probably lost weight. His bank account is still hefty.
What I found really funny was when they were on the tarmac at the airport, where there were many photos to take, hands to shake, and stuff to do before they left, Cams was always running on ahead of Charles. Charles was being guided by someone, but Cams was just ignoring it and heading towards the plane, turning back, and looking confused. She seemed clueless. Isn’t the monarch’s spouse supposed to stay 3 steps behind them? She should have just followed Charles. Teh protocol experts didn’t seem prepared for her behaviour, which is odd. It’s like it has never happened before…