Carney bolsters UK links in meetings with King and PM

King Charles has hosted Canada’s new prime minister Mark Carney at Buckingham Palace, as Donald Trump vows his intention to make the Commonwealth nation America’s 51st state.

- A N D Y G R E G O R Y

In a possible show of support for Ottowa as it also battles a trade war initiated by Mr Trump, Charles – who is the King of Canada – wore a red tie to the meeting in the 1844 Room of the royal residence in London.

As the pair met yesterday afternoon, Charles – who must avoid becoming directly involved in politics – brought up the importance of audiences between a monarch and a prime minister, telling Mr Carney: “I know these things are rather important.”

Agreeing with the monarch, Mr Carney – who was sworn in as PM last week and last met Charles in March 2020, while governor of the Bank of England – said they had “much to catch up on”.

The pair then sat down privately for a 30-minute meeting, with no aides in attendance, as is the custom for the King’s audiences with his prime ministers.

While the King has faced some pressure to issue stauncher support for Canada in the face of Mr Trump’s threats, he has given multiple possible signals of his backing for the country in recent weeks, including wearing Canadian military honours, planting a maple at Buckingham Palace and sitting on a Canadian chair at last week’s Commonwealth Service.