As Canada navigates a growing trade conflict with the United States, coupled with looming threats of annexation from President Donald Trump, one McMaster University historian highlights subtle expressions of support from Canada’s monarch, King Charles III. Historian Justin Vovk, who teaches at McMaster University in Hamilton and serves on the advisory board of the Institute For The Study of The Crown in Canada, emphasizes the unique and challenging position the monarchy finds itself in during these unprecedented times.
Vovk elaborates, “This is a tremendously awkward position for the monarchy to be in, largely because it’s never really happened before.” He notes that the monarchy typically relies on historical precedents to guide its actions. Yet, in light of recent events, it seems King Charles is making thoughtful gestures to show solidarity with Canada, according to Vovk.
Observing King Charles's recent activities, Vovk points out, "We are seeing things like him meeting with both Justin Trudeau and Mark Carney in fairly short order. That’s quite unusual." He mentions the ceremonial sword presentation to representatives of the Canadian Senate as another notable act. Moreover, Vovk highlights that King Charles donned what appeared to be Canadian colors during press conferences and meetings following his engagement with Prime Minister Trudeau.
Despite these gestures, Vovk does not anticipate any outspoken declarations from the Crown. He emphasizes that the Royal Family traditionally exercises restraint bound by constitutional protocols. “We’ve seen a lot of buzz around the Princess of Wales, Kate, at the Commonwealth Service, where she appeared entirely in red with an accent of white pearls, and everyone was jumping on that saying it must be a sign of support for Canada,” he adds, indicating the subtlety of royal expressions of support.
Vovk believes that these gestures by King Charles may have been prompted by requests from the Canadian government, reflecting a collaborative effort to communicate solidarity. “It means that our government has already said, we want these signals to happen,” he explains. The gestures are seen as a way to reassure the public, as many Canadians seek to understand the monarchy's stance concerning their national challenges.
For a visual representation of this connection, Vovk cites the King planting a red maple tree on the grounds of Buckingham Palace in March, stating it serves as a tangible sign that King Charles is thinking of Canada and is aware of the issues it faces. Such acts are crafted to resonate with the Canadian populace, reaffirming the monarchy’s link to the nation during turbulent times.
