The King welcomed the new Prime Minister of Canada, Mark Carney, at Buckingham Palace today, marking the first official meeting between the two since Carney took office. Just weeks prior, the King had met with Carney’s predecessor, Justin Trudeau.
The meeting, held in the 1844 Room of the Royal Residence, comes amid heightened tensions between Canada and the United States following remarks by US President Donald Trump suggesting that Canada should become America’s 51st state.
The King met the new Prime Minister of Canada. (Royal Family)
Carney addressed the controversy surrounding Trump’s statements on Canadian sovereignty and firmly rejected the notion that Canada could ever be absorbed into the United States, he stated ‘Canada is fundamentally different from America and will never, ever, in any way shape or form, be part of the United States’.
As Canada’s Head of State, King Charles extended his congratulations to Carney, who was sworn in just last Friday. The King was seen smiling as he shook the Prime Minister’s hand, saying, ‘very good to see you. Congratulations’. Carney responded warmly, expressing his gratitude and noting, ‘bit of a disaster today, sir. My Order of Canada pin broke’. He humorously added that it had fallen on the tarmac, joking that it was ‘proof that our founding people is the British’, a remark that prompted laughter from the King.
Watch: The King has welcomed new Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney to Buckingham Palace for an audience👇🏻
(🎥 @DuncanCStone) pic.twitter.com/yyHMm3f2dW
— Lizzie Robinson (@LizzieITV) March 17, 2025
The meeting between the two leaders follows Carney’s diplomatic visit to France, where he engaged in discussions with President Emmanuel Macron. The newly elected Prime Minister is prioritising strengthening alliances in Europe as Canada navigates an increasingly complex geopolitical landscape, particularly with ongoing discussions regarding a coalition of nations willing to contribute to a peacekeeping force in Ukraine.
Carney’s visit to London also includes a meeting with British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer at Downing Street. His discussions with UK leadership are expected to focus on economic and security partnerships, reinforcing Canada’s role in international diplomacy.
