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By Jack Royston
Chief Royal Correspondent
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King Charles III's face-to-face meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Monday served as a show of support, against the backdrop of President Donald Trump's talk of annexing Canada.
The pair sat down together at Sandringham House, on the king's estate in the east of England, just days after Charles invited Trump to a historic second state visit to Britain.
It comes after Trudeau hinted on Sunday he would be discussing the annexation threat, as quoted by The Associated Press: "Nothing seems more important to Canadians right now than standing up for our sovereignty and our independence as a nation."
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"The hope is that the king's very visible expression of support for the Canadian prime minister, as the head of state of Canada, will be interpreted in the way that the meeting with [Ukrainian President Volodymyr] Zelensky was yesterday [Sunday]," a palace insider told Newsweek. "Today's was a very significant meeting."
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The king met Zelensky on Sunday in the aftermath of a hazing by Trump and Vice President JD Vance in the Oval Office on Friday when the trio clashed over Kyiv's ongoing war with Russia.
Charles' gesture was seen—alongside U.K. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's warm embrace of Zelensky—as a sign Britain was backing him despite the difficulties in D.C.
It was something of a roller coaster week for the king, which began with Starmer handing Trump a letter from Charles at the Oval Office.
"This is really special," Starmer said. "This has never happened before. This is unprecedented and I think that just symbolizes the strength of the relationship between us."
The move was seen as a success in Britain, but might have made difficult viewing for some Canadians, knowing their king was extending the hand of friendship to a man threatening to annex their country.
In February, Trump said in an Oval Office meeting: "What I'd like to see—Canada become our 51st state."
Trudeau indicated he viewed the threat as "real," as quoted by the BBC: "Mr. Trump has it in mind that the easiest way to do it is absorbing our country and it is a real thing."
Charles has therefore needed to work the magic of the royal family's famous soft power on all sides of a particularly tricky fence, first Trump, then with Zelensky, and now with Trudeau.
"There are situations where the royal family, the king, the late queen, find themselves requiring the very deftest levels of diplomacy where there may be different priorities of interest in their different roles," the source told Newsweek.
"It's been a fascinating and challenging time, but one in which the king has been determined to play his role to the best of his abilities."
This has also not been Charles' only support for the country recently. In February, celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Canadian flag, the king's office posted a message from the monarch: "Today my wife and I join with Canadians across Canada, and around the world, to commemorate an important milestone—the 60th anniversary of the Canadian flag.
"On February 15, 1965, the red and white maple leaf was first flown on Parliament Hill in Ottawa.
"Since that time, it has become internationally recognized as a symbol of a proud, resilient and compassionate country.
"For my own part, it is a symbol that never fails to elicit a sense of pride and admiration, as I recall with the deepest affection my many Canadian visits and friendships."
Buckingham Palace declined to comment.
Jack Royston is chief royal correspondent for Newsweek*, based in London. You can find him on X, formerly Twitter, at @jack_royston and read his stories on Newsweek's The Royals Facebook page.*
Do you have a question about Charles and Queen Camilla, Prince William and Princess Kate, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, or their family that you would like our experienced royal correspondents to answer? Email royals@newsweek.com. We'd love to hear from you.
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