King Charles III's visit to Canada: Here are the dates and minute-by-minute itinerary of the royal trip

King Charles III and Queen Camilla will embark on a two-day visit to Ottawa from May 26 to 27, 2025. This marks the King's first visit to Canada since his coronation and underscores the enduring bond between Canada and the Crown. This marks Charles’s 20th visit to Canada, and Camilla’s sixth, but with renewed meaning.

“It’s not just about nostalgia,” says historian Dr. Marie Bouchard. “The monarchy is a legal and living part of our democratic system. This visit reminds us of that.”

The visit carries significant weight, particularly in light of recent remarks by US President Donald Trump suggesting Canada could become the 51st state.


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Canadian officials, including Prime Minister Mark Carney and High Commissioner Ralph Goodale, have emphasized that the King's presence will reinforce Canada's sovereignty and independence.

Royal trip’s itinerary

May 26:

• Arrival in Ottawa: Their Majesties will be welcomed by Governor General Mary Simon, Prime Minister Mark Carney, Indigenous leaders, and an honour guard from the Royal Canadian Dragoons, a regiment for which King Charles is colonel-in-chief. The Canadian Armed Forces band will also be there to perform.
  

• Community Gathering at Lansdowne Park (1:50 p.m.): The public is invited to engage with the royal couple at a vibrant event showcasing Canadian diversity, including a farmers' market and a ceremonial puck drop by the King at a road hockey game.
  
• Ceremonial Tree Planting at Rideau Hall (2:50 p.m.): At the official residence of the Governor General, the King will plant a tree, symbolizing growth and continuity. Queen Camilla will be sworn into the King's Privy Council for Canada, reflecting her formal role in Canadian affairs.
  
• The King will then hold private audiences with Governor General Mary Simon and Prime Minister Mark Carney, underscoring his constitutional role as Canada’s head of state.
  

May 27:

• Procession to the Senate (9:50 a.m.): The royal couple will travel in Canada's State Landau, escorted by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Musical Ride, from the Bank of Canada to the Senate of Canada Building.
  
• Speech from the Throne (11:00 a.m.): King Charles III will deliver the Speech from the Throne and will open the Parliament of Canada, which is expected to take between 20 and 25 minutes. This marks only the third time a reigning monarch has performed this duty in Canada. The last time a monarch did this was Queen Elizabeth II in 1977.
  
• Wreath Laying at the National War Memorial (11:55 a.m.): Their Majesties will honor Canada's fallen soldiers and commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
  

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There will then be a Royal Canadian Air Force flypast before the royal couple return to the airport for their departure.

In a time of global uncertainty and internal debates about the monarchy's role, this visit reaffirms the Crown's place in Canada's constitutional framework and its relevance to contemporary Canadian society.