Royal tour 2025: Here's what King Charles III and Queen Camilla are doing in Canada
If you find yourself in Canada’s capital next week, there are a handful of opportunities to see King Charles III and Queen Camilla.
Their Majesties’ itineraries for the two-day visit, May 26-27, were released on Tuesday.
“This will be His Majesty’s first visit to Canada since his Coronation — a momentous and historic occasion that underscores Canada’s identity and sovereignty as a constitutional monarchy,” Canada Heritage wrote.
In addition to delivering the first throne speech from a monarch since 1977 , here’s what the King and Queen are scheduled to attend on their quick trip.
Monday, May 26
After arriving in Ottawa, where they’ll be greeted by troops from the Royal Canadian Dragoons — the most senior armoured regiment in the Canadian Forces — the royal pair are set to attend an early-afternoon community gathering at Landsdowne Park, which will be open to the general public.
“Their Majesties will meet and engage with Canadian individuals and organizations showcasing Canadian identity and diversity and take part in various activities,” according to the itinerary.
Within an hour, it’s off to Governor General of Canada Mary Simon’s residence at Rideau Hall, where the provincial Lieutenant Governors and Territorial Commissioners will have a chance to meet with the monarchs.
King Charles will also be joined by Viceregal representatives, community groups and school groups for a ceremonial tree planting.
The rest of the day includes an audience with Simon and Prime Minister Mark Carney.
The Liberal leader extended the invitation to King Charles on a visit to the U.K. immediately after his swearing in as Canada’s prime minister in mid-March.
“That clearly underscores the sovereignty of our country,” Carney said when the visit was first announced.
Tuesday, May 27
Day two of their visit begins at the Bank of Canada with a ride down Wellington Street aboard Canada’s State Landau — a luxury 19th-century carriage — and accompanied by RCMP Musical Ride horses.
On their last visit in 2022 to mark the Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II, Charles and Camilla visited the home of the ceremonial equine team to meet riders and attend a special performance. His Majesty was appointed an honorary commissioner of the RCMP in 2012. In 2023, he was presented with Noble, a horse given to him by the RCMP to mark his acceptance of the role of Commissioner-in-Chief of the RCMP during a ceremony at Windsor Castle in England.
Both the scheduled 25-minute ride and their arrival at the Senate of Canada are open to the public.
Outside the Senate, “The King will receive full military honours which will include 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.”
The speech from the Throne to open Canada’s 45th parliament is scheduled for 11 a.m. from the Senate Chamber.
The last monarch to do so was the King’s mother, the late Queen Elizabeth II, in 1977.
Philippe Lagassé: A Canadian King in Parliament
The pair will close out their morning with a public wreath-laying at the National War Memorial to mark the 25th anniversary of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
Their Majesties are scheduled to depart later that day.
How many times have King Charles and Queen Camilla visited Canada?
This will be King Charles’ 20th official and personal documented trip to Canada. His first came alongside his late parents, Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh, in 1970 when he was 22.
Their last visit in 2022, when Charles was still Prince of Wales, lasted three days and saw them arrive in St. John’s before visiting Ottawa and then the Northwest Territories.
A trip in 2017 was also three days long, starting in Iqaluit, Nunavut, before moving on to Ontario’s Prince Edward County and finishing up in Ottawa and Gatineau, Que.
Visits in 2014 and 2012 lasted four days, while a trip in 2009, their first to Canada as an official couple and the Queen’s first of five visits to date, was a nine-day excursion that brought them from Newfoundland, through Ontario and Quebec, to British Columbia.
The King’s longest stay in Canada came in 1975 when he was serving aboard the HMS Hermes. The longest official visit was the first leg of a cross-Canada Royal Couple tour with the late Princess Diana in 1983 — an 18-day stay throughout Atlantic Canada.
Warming up at Canada House
In advance of this visit, Their Majesties visited Canada House in London on Tuesday to mark the 100th anniversary of the High Commission of Canada in the United Kingdom.
???????? Happy 100 years to Canada House!
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) May 20, 2025
Ahead of Their Majesties’ visit to Ottawa next week, The King and Queen have visited Canada House to mark a century since it opened in June 1925.
Canada House has become a symbol of Canada in London and a showcase for Canadian art, culture… pic.twitter.com/HbsIfuTcZO
After viewing an enormous floor map of Canada, His Majesty was presented with keys to the building first opened by his great-grandfather, King George V, in 1925.
“Your presence here today launches your journey to Canada next week. This will be your 20th visit, but your first as reigning monarch,” said Ralph Goodale, High Commissioner for Canada in the U.K., per the Daily Mail.
‘Your dear mother Queen Elizabeth II often said to the delight of Canadians that a journey to Canada felt like coming home. We hope that you feel exactly the same way.”
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