Fears that King Charles is heading for row with Donald Trump in historic Canada visit

Keir Starmer fears the King is on collision course with US President Donald Trump as Charles arrives in Canada tomorrow to attend the state opening of the nation’s Parliament. Mr Trump has called for Canada to become the 51st state of the USA and the country’s new prime minister, Mark Carney, has vowed to defend its independence.

Charles is the King of Canada, a Commonwealth country, separately to being King of the United Kingdom. While he will not criticise Mr Trump, it’s thought he could make a comment designed to reassure Canadians during his visit. He is to deliver a 30-minute speech written for him by the Canadian government.

The British Government usually has the power to “advise” the monarch - effectively telling them what to do - but has no formal powers to tell the King how to deal with his other countries where he is sovereign. Even so, Ministers are reported to have privately urged Charles to avoid angering the President.

The Sunday Times reports a source said: “British ministers have been trying to persuade the Canadian government to keep Charles free of any controversy around Donald Trump, and that has been fiercely resisted by the Canadians.”

Mr Trump has expressed his admiration for the British monarchy and the Royal Family has been used to spearhead a charm offensive aimed at the White House, including offering the President a second full state visit to the UK.

Charles, who is still receiving weekly cancer treatment, will be accompanied by the Queen when he attend the state opening of Canada’s Parliament on Tuesday, only the second time a monarch has done so.

Mark Carney told Donald Trump that Canada “is not for sale” when the pair met at the White House earlier this month.

Mr Carney said: “As you know from real estate, there are some places that are never for sale.”

He added: “Having met with the owners of Canada over the course of the campaign in the last several months, it’s not for sale. Won’t be for sale, ever.”

Trump replied: “Never say never.”

In March Donald Trump indicated he would accept an offer from King Charles for the United States to become an “associate member” of the Commonwealth.

The president posted on his Truth Social account on Friday: “I Love King Charles. Sounds good to me!”