King Charles opened the Canadian parliament on Monday. He did so in his capacity as King of Canada, rather than of the UK, giving his message a very Canadian flavour. He delivered his speech in English and French, speaking of a changing world, alliances with European nations and emphasising Canada’s sovereignty and independence.
It’s not often that the British monarch goes to this trouble – the last time was 70 years ago. Despite being King, his power is strictly limited. However, he knows these limits and also knows how and when to use his power most effectively.
Down south, in the Land of the Free, their king has abruptly realised the limits of his power. He has received a new toy from Pete Hegseth: a large golden globe where the United States covers 90% of the northern hemisphere. This is supposed to show the operation of the Golden Dome boondoggle.
There must be some vestiges of knowledge and expertise in the US government that the regime has not yet eradicated. People who know that the Golden Dome cannot possibly work without Canadian cooperation. And so the Golden One launches into his standard 51st state routine, trying to persuade Canada to voluntarily annex itself for this idiocy.
No problem. Canada can string this along for ever. It’ll never work anyway. All the USA is doing is frittering away its military, economic and diplomatic power. For nothing.
“No Canada for you!” says King Charles. Quite right.