King Charles has privately contacted Canada’s new Prime Minister Mark Carney as he was sworn in as the country’s leader, it is understood.
The new Prime Minister, who was a former Bank of England governor, swore allegiance to His Majesty – also the King of Canada – in a ceremony in Ottawa on Friday.
Following the ceremony, Mr Carney paid tribute to the country’s ‘proud British heritage’, where he highlighted how the country was built on ‘the bedrock’ of ‘Indigenous, French and British’ people.
He added: ‘The Office of the Governor General links us through the crown and across time to Canada’s proud British heritage.’
He also announced that he would be discussing trade, economic and security issues with French President Emmanuel Macron and UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer in Paris over the next few days.
Responding to a question from reporters, Mr Carney said: ‘Security is a priority for this government, reinforcing our security, as is diversifying our trading and commercial relationships, of course, with both Europe and the United Kingdom, there are many opportunities.’
Earlier this week, it is understood that King Charles III welcomed officers from the Canadian parliament to Buckingham Palace where they discussed several pressing national and international topics.
The 30-minute audience, which was a long-standing arrangement, came shortly after Donald Trump threatened historic financial devastation for Canada amid an escalating and erratic trade war.
King Charles has privately contacted Canada’s new Prime Minister Mark Carney as he was sworn in as the country’s leader, it is understood
The new Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney swore allegiance to the His Majesty in as he was ushered into the leading role in a ceremony today
It comes amid a bitter tariff war between the US President Donald Trump and Canada in recent weeks
On Wednesday Trump imposed 25 per cent tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports immediately drew reciprocal measures from Canada and the European Union , prompting a fiery response from America’s northern neighbour.
Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly hit out at Trump for levelling ‘unjustifiable’ tariffs against Canada and trying to ‘annex our country through economic coercion’.
‘If the US can do this to us, their closest friend, then nobody is safe,’ Joly warned as she delivered a searing speech in Ottawa, Politico reports.
Joly criticised Trump for his regularly changing and ‘exaggerated’ justifications for the tariffs, noting that threats of ‘further and broader’ measures on April 2 still loom.
In his speech on Friday, Prime Minister Mr Carney addressed the ongoing trade war and said Canada will ‘never, ever, in any way shape or form be part of the United States’.
The 59-year-old replaces Justin Trudeau, who announced his resignation in January but remained in power until the Liberal Party elected a new leader, and is widely expected to trigger a general election in the coming days or weeks.
On Monday the weeping former Canadian Prime Minister took one last swipe at Trump during his final speech as head of the country.
Trudeau, who was forced to step down following a wave of resignations from his cabinet in the final months of 2024, was seen dabbing his eyes with a tissue during a conference to his Liberal party.
King Charles previously welcomed Canada’s prime minister Justin Trudeau to his private Sandringham estate in Norfolk at the beginning of the month
The pair were pictured as they met and chatted in a saloon at the royal property
The King welcomed and shook hands with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky on March 2, 2024
Charles’s show of solidarity came 48 hours after President Trump’s meltdown with Mr Zelensky in the Oval Office
Sir Keir Starmer greeting Mr Zelensky in Downing Street on Mach 1, 2025. The PM announced plans to send 5,000 British air defence missiles to Ukraine
Trudeau said during his emotional speech: ‘Don’t get me wrong, I’m damn proud of what we’ve done over these past 10 years. But tonight is about our future as a party, as a country.’
Referencing the ongoing threat of massive economic tariffs from US president Donald Trump that could cripple the country’s economy, the outgoing PM said that Canada is ‘a country who will fight when we must, elbows up.’
He added that Canadians are now showing ‘what makes us… by proudly embracing who we are’ amid existential challenges.
Trudeau then told the gathered members of the Liberal Party conference: ‘Your country needs you maybe more than ever. And I have no doubt that you will answer the call, because you’ve done it before. Liberals will meet this moment.’
He describes the current moment of history as a ‘nation-defining moment’, adding: ‘Democracy is not a given, freedom is not a given, even Canada is not a given.’
None of those happened by accident or will continue without effort, Trudeau said, adding: ‘It takes courage, it takes sacrifice, it takes hope and hard work’.
Mr Trudeau had met with the King at Sandringham earlier this month, shortly after His Majesty had welcomed President Volodymyr Zelensky.
The monarch was hailed for offering a show of solidarity to Mr Zelensky by warmly welcoming him after the president’s dramatic Oval Office clash with Mr Trump.
The challenges Canada faces with its nearest neighbour were said to be high on the agenda, as was support for Ukraine, when the King met Mr Trudeau on March 3.
A weeping Justin Trudeau (pictured) has taken one last swipe at Donald Trump during his final speech as Prime Minister of Canada
The 53-year-old leader has been replaced by former Bank of England boss Mark Carney (pictured)
Carney had earlier weighed in on the standoff between Trump and Trudeau
Sources previously told the Mail not to underestimate the significance of the meeting between the monarch and Mr Trudeau at his private Norfolk estate.
The Canadian leader had made clear before the meeting that he wanted to discuss matters of importance to Canadians with the monarch.
He said: ‘Nothing seems more important to Canadians right now than standing up for our sovereignty and our independence as a nation.’
Charles appeared to give a hearty laugh as Mr Trudeau gestured towards him with a pointed figure and shook the monarch’s hand.
While Buckingham Palace declined to comment at the time, a well-placed source told the Mail: ‘As is often the case with the Royal Family’s role, the pictures speak for themselves.’
MailOnline has approached Buckingham Palace for comment.
