Official Itinerary Announced for Royal Visit of King Charles III and Queen Camilla to Ottawa
The Government of Canada announced the official itinerary for the Royal Visit of King Charles III and Queen Camilla in Ottawa on May 26 and 27, 2025. According to Canadian Heritage, the visit will include King Charles III delivering the Speech from the Throne at the opening of the 45th Parliament of Canada.
This visit will be King Charles III's first to Canada as King and the first time a reigning monarch has delivered the Speech from the Throne in Canada since 1977, according to Canadian Heritage. This event also marks the 20th visit to Canada for King Charles III and the sixth for Queen Camilla. Their most recent visit was in May 2022.
On May 26, Their Majesties are scheduled to arrive in Ottawa in the afternoon. Upon arrival at the Canada Reception Centre, they will be welcomed by the Governor General, Prime Minister, Indigenous leaders, and the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario. An arrival guard from the Royal Canadian Dragoons will also be present. That day, the King and Queen will visit Lansdowne Park to meet with members of community organizations and the public, followed by a ceremonial tree planting at Rideau Hall with viceregal representatives and community members. King Charles III will then hold meetings with the Governor General and the Prime Minister.
On May 27, Their Majesties will travel in Canada's State Landau, drawn by horses of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Musical Ride, along Wellington Street from the Bank of Canada to the Senate of Canada. At the Senate, King Charles III will receive full military honours, including a Royal Salute, a 100-person guard of honour from the 3rd Battalion of the Royal Canadian Regiment, an inspection of the guard and the band, and a 21-gun salute. King Charles III is scheduled to deliver the Speech from the Throne to open the first session of the 45th Parliament of Canada. Before concluding their visit, the King and Queen will lay a wreath and flowers at The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the National War Memorial.
According to Canadian Heritage, the last time a sovereign delivered the Speech from the Throne in Canada was in 1977 by Queen Elizabeth II. The Speech is typically delivered by the Governor General, who serves as the Monarch’s representative in Canada.