That’s a long time to spend getting ready — and he had to try to chart his own course. He took a strong interest in architecture and the environment, and sensibly opted for Jack Russells, instead of the corgis preferred by his mum. She had 30 of them over the years and they bit a lot of ankles.
King Charles and Queen Camilla have two Jack Russells, Bluebell and Beth, both collected from the Battersea Dogs and Cats Home. Neither of them made the trip to Canada last week, when the King quickly accepted the invitation to open the new sitting of parliament.
I get the feeling he relished it. The Boss assures me the Royal calendar is usually set out for many months, if not years, in advance, but the call came from the new Canadian PM, Mark Carney — a former Bank of England governor — to help send a message.
And send a message King Charles did, in impeccable British style. The Boss says the media folks accompanying the King from London grizzled about the pace of their 22-hour trip to Canada and back — but the King, aged 76 and facing his own health challenges, not only squeezed it in but offered a graceful show of support for the “strong and free” Canadians; they needed it after President Trump said Canada should become the 51st US state — then announced tariffs to damage its economy.
Without mentioning The Donald by name, the King observed that the US and Canada had begun “defining a new economic and security relationship”.
“Today, Canada faces another critical moment. Democracy, pluralism, the rule of law, self-determination and freedom are values which Canadians hold dear, and ones which the government is determined to protect,” the King said.
Speaking in French for part of the opening, he said “We must face reality: since the Second World War, our world has never been more dangerous and unstable. Canada is facing challenges that, in our lifetimes, are unprecedented.”
The Donald — as usual having nothing more important to do — responded that night on his social media channel, saying if Canada “becomes the cherished 51st state” it won’t have to pay to become part of his future Golden Dome missile program. And he claimed Canada was “considering the offer”.
Although the King doesn’t get involved in politics overtly, he is no slouch at employing coded signals to indicate his leanings.
When he met Canadian PM Mark Carney at Buckingham Palace in March, he chose to wear a deep red tie — exactly the same colour as the Canadians’ maple-leaf flag, which no-one thought was accidental.
In mid-February, at the height of the Canada-US tensions, he wore Canadian military medals while visiting a Royal Navy vessel, presented a ceremonial sword to his Canadian attendant and, at the annual celebration of Commonwealth countries in London, he sat in a Canadian chair.
Then he planted a maple tree behind Buckingham Palace.
It’s as close as it gets to the Royal finger. Woof!
