LIVE: King Charles delivers the speech from the throne, will lay a wreath at the National War Memorial

Some onlookers claimed spots along Wellington Street as early a 5 a.m. to catch a glimpse of of King Charles and Queen Camilla.

Published May 27, 2025

Last updated May 27, 2025

7 minute read

King Charles and Queen Camilla were greeted by thousands of fans as they made their way to the Senate of Canada Tuesday morning where the king officially opened Parliament. Photo by JULIE OLIVER /PostmediaArticle content

King Charles and Queen Camilla promenaded down Wellington Street this morning as part of their royal visit to the capital.

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The procession started at the Bank of Canada at about just before 10 a.m. and arrived at the Senate a short time later. The King and Queen were greeted by a guard of honour from the 3rd Battalion of the Royal Canadian Regiment and received a 21-gun salute.

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From the Senate floor, the King then gave the speech from the throne, which will set the agenda for the new government of Prime Minister Mark Carney.

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Tuesday is the second day of a two-day visit. Monday, Charles and Camilla visited Lansdowne Park where they were greeted by thousands of onlookers

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King Charles inspects the Royal Canadian Air Force’s Central Band. Photo by JULIE OLIVER /PostmediaArticle content

You can expect serious traffic delays because of road closures for the royal visit and procession.

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Our reporters Paula Tran and Matteo Cimellaro are live on the ground talking to locals and visitors alike, hoping to catch a glimpse of the royal couple as they make their way to Parliament.

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King Charles inspects the Royal Canadian Regiment’s 100 person Guard of Honour. Photo by JULIE OLIVER /PostmediaArticle content

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Thousands of fans lined the parade route as the Royal Canadian Regiment’s 100 person Honour Guard got ready for the royal couple’s arrival. Photo by JULIE OLIVER /PostmediaArticle content

Saying farewell to the King and Queen

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As the King and Queen leave the war memorial to head back to the United Kingdom, many are wishing they’d come back soon.

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Anna Zwaan and her friend Shea Murray said the Royal Visit was a surreal moment for them.

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“It might never happen again,” Zwaan said.

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“It was really beautiful just having those moments of silence to just witness and see Their Majesties … It makes a really strong statement for Canada.”

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“Come back soon,” Murray chimed in.

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Citali Deverge, who was also in the crowd, came down to witness a “once in a lifetime” experience.

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“It’s not every day that you get to see the King and Queen coming here and having a chance to see them in person or close by and maybe shake their hand,” she said.

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“It was very surreal seeing that they’re real people, and not just in photographs … I hope they come back soon.”

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Among the dignitaries, a former premier and federal minsiter

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Former prime ministers, premiers and politicians were invited to watch the Throne Speech in the Senate chambers on Tuesday morning. Among those includeed former prime ministers Justin Trudeau and Stephen Harper, as well as former governor generals.

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Jason Kenney, who is a former federal minister and the former premier of Alberta, was also invited. A self-proclaimed monarchist and “patriotic history buff,” he said Tuesday’s throne speech is a historic event because of Canada’s deep historical ties with the British monarchy.

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“You can’t say no to an opportunity to be present at history’s first throne speech from a sovereign since ’77 and the first opening of parliament since ’56,” he told the Ottawa Citizen in an interview. Kenney is also a member of the Postmedia board of directors.

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“I, for one, got a little teary eyed when at the beginning of his speech today, he talked about his 20th visit to Canada … how every time he comes here, a little bit more of Canada seeps into his blood, and that goes straight to his heart. I think those are truly heartfelt words.”

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Kenney also echoed sentiments from many that the King’s presence in Canada reaffirms the country’s sovereignty, especially in light of U.S. President Donald Trump’s statements about the 51st state.

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He said Canadians should be proud of their history, that their ancestors chose to be part of the constitutional monarchy.

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“I think there was a message to Canadians about pride, unity, and confidence in our country. And there was a message, a coded message, to the White House, that we are actually an old country with a proud history, with deeply grounded historical institutions, including the Crown,” he added.

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“I hope it generates a renewed sense of pride, of unity, of sovereignty, and a reminder that we’re not alone … I hope this is just a little shot in the arm to remind us that we can continue doing that, and you don’t need to be a flag waving monarchist to do that.”

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King Charles and Queen Camilla were greeted by fans as they made their way to the Senate of Canada Tuesday morning where the king officially opened Parliament. Photo by Tony Caldwell /PostmediaArticle content

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After the speech and onto the War Memorial

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Cheers can be heard in the distance as King Charles begins his walk toward the National War Memorial along Wellington Street after he left the Senate.

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Before he left in his motorcade, a woman yelled “thank you for coming sir.” King Charles III looked back towards the gratitude and waved.

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It’s a somber moment as King Charles lays a wreath on the Tomb of the Fallen Soldier. The Canadian anthem plays and four military aircraft do a flyover as he leaves the War Memorial, concluding his Royal Visit to Canada. Cheers erupt from the crowd as he leaves. pic.twitter.com/Ec6Bej9cX2

— Paula Tran 陳寶拉 (@paulatr12) May 27, 2025Article content

A fly past near the War Memorial Tuesday. Photo by Tony Caldwell /PostmediaArticle content

What comes next

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The King and Queen are inside the Senate chamber, awaiting the arrival of MPs from the House of Commons.

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With the King in the chamber, the Royal Standard flew atop the Peace Tower to signify the King is in Parliament.

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The commoners made their way down Wellington to the Senate chamber. Typically, that would be just a brisk walk down a hallway, but with Centre Block undergoing a massive overhaul, the Senate is now at the old train station at 2 Rideau Street, a fair jaunt down Wellington.

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After the speech from the throne, the King and Queen will head to the National War Memorial, where they will lay a wreath, before the head to the airport and depart the city.

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King Charles and Queen Camilla arrive at the War Memorial to lay a wreath on the Tomb of the Fallen Soldier Tuesday. Photo by Tony Caldwell /PostmediaArticle content

The King and Queen arrive

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The King and Queen have arrived. There is a cannon salute after God Save the King is played. Governor General Mary Simon is also in attendance with her husband.

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Some people are now chanting “God Save the King.”

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The King is now entering the Senate building to deliver the throne speech and open a new session of Parliament.

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King Charles inspects the Royal Canadian Regiment’s 100 person Guard of Honour. Photo by JULIE OLIVER /PostmediaArticle content

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Queen Camilla arrives at the War Memorial to lay some flowers on the Tomb of the Fallen Soldier Tuesday. Photo by Tony Caldwell /PostmediaArticle content

Dignitaries begin to arrive

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Prime Minister Mark Carney and his wife, Diana Fox Carney, have arrived. Some cheers erupt as he gets out of the motorcade. Somebody yells, “We love you Mark Carney,” when the national anthem finishes playing.

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Cheers erupt as the RCMP officers in red uniforms ride down Wellington Street on horses.

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The military procession begins down Wellington Street

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The crowd begins to grow

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Good morning! People are lining up along Wellington Street to see King Charles as he walks up to the Senate building to deliver the throne speech this morning. Lots of people lined up as early as 5am to get a prime spot. #RoyalVisitCanada pic.twitter.com/2jbVmvyPKw

— Paula Tran 陳寶拉 (@paulatr12) May 27, 2025Article content

What it takes to get a good spot: lining up at 5 a.m.

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Trevor Henderson travelled all the way from Toronto to see the royal tour. He claimed his spot at 5 in the morning, with the hope of shaking hands with the King.

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Henderson is a royal watcher, enamoured with the living history the monarchy represents.

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“As a history junkie and politics there, a blend of both,” Henderson said. “[King Charles III] is a piece of a living piece of history that’s been how many 1000 years of continual, almost continuous, rule. I find it super interesting.”

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Henderson also understands the political meaning of the visit, given the threats of annexation from U.S. President Donald Trump. Henderson thinks the royal tour is sending a clear message about Canadian sovereignty.

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“There’s someone who needs to hear it from someone that he respects, and we know he respects royal Royals around the world, any royal he seems to respect,” Henderson added.

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Others like Mary Gibb and Janice Kendrick from Ottawa are paying a visit to witness the historic moment, imbued with political tension around sovereignty.

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“I think it was very clever of Carney to ask him, and it sends a message politically, our friends in the south, we are a sovereign country. We’re not a republic,” Gibb said.

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Other global conflicts were represented in the crowd, including small flags of Palestine and Ukrainian and Canadian blended flags.

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King Charles and Queen Camilla were greeted by fans and protestors as they made their way to the Senate of Canada Tuesday morning where the king officially opened Parliament. Photo by Tony Caldwell /PostmediaArticle content

An impressive life of service

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Joy Stratford, a former foot guard at Parliament Hill, has a front row seat at the barricade near Parliament Hill. In front of her is a banner with hand-drawn Palestinian flags, along with the Union Jack and Canadian flags.

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Stratford hopes King Charles will see the Palestinian flags and consider the conflict happening in the Middle East.

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“I feel like everybody’s here because there’s like the king has our back. And I’m like, but whose backs do we have? And frankly, our backs don’t need to be covered right now,” Stratford said.

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“There’s all kinds of people who are living in all kinds of hard times, and we’re lucky to celebrate by a war memorial and a peaceful time.”

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Stratford said she’s also there because her parents are British and because she grew up watching the King’s mother, Queen Elizabeth II.

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“Apparently, the last time a monarch (delivered a throne speech) was in ‘77 and ’57, so it’s a big deal. His mother was always an inspiration to me. I went to the Jubilee with a friend when we turned 60, but for me, it was to have a woman who was a leader, as a little girl,” she added.

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“She lived a life a service, and that was just so impressive. And he’ll give a life of service.”

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Cheers can be heard in the distance as King Charles begins his walk toward the National War Memorial along Wellington Street after he left the Senate. Photo by Tony Caldwell /PostmediaArticle content

Rowdy crowds of the past

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In 1939, a similar royal procession took place down Wellington when King George VI was in Ottawa on a royal tour of Canada.

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Children lining the street used the wrought iron fencing around Parliament to get a better glimpse of royalty. Several tried claiming Elm trees lining the route, but Mounties shouted them down. One child decided he’d prefer to stay aloft, much to the approval of the crowd, according to the Citizen in 1939.

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“An argument developed between a Mountie and the boy to the delight of the crowd around the gate, but he still stayed in the tree,” the paper reported at the time.

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