OTTAWA — King Charles will drop a puck at a road hockey game and visit an Ottawa farmers market next week during his first visit to Canada since his coronation.
Those will be two of several chances people in Ottawa will have to get a glimpse of the King and Queen during their short trip to the city.
Prime Minister Mark Carney and his government have invited the King to read the throne speech on Tuesday to formally open the new session of Parliament.
This will be only the third time a monarch has presided over the throne speech in Canada, something Queen Elizabeth did in 1957 and during her Silver Jubilee 1977.
The event is seen as symbolic of Canada's close ties to the monarchy at a time when the country's closest ally, the United States, has threatened Canadian sovereignty.
King Charles and Queen Camilla will arrive in the national capital on Monday, May 26, in the early afternoon.
Their first event that is open to the public will be a community gathering at Lansdowne Park, set to begin at 1:50 p.m., where the royal couple is expected to greet onlookers and visit a farmers market.
The King is also set to drop the puck in a ceremonial faceoff at a road hockey game.
Canadian government officials who gave a briefing to reporters on background said the event is meant to be festive and lively, and that people will be able to attend on a first-come-first served basis.
There will be extensive security around all of the events on Monday and Tuesday, and the officials said there will likely be road closures around the downtown as well.
Later Monday the King and Queen will travel to Rideau Hall, where they'll take part in a tree-planting ceremony, a traditional feature of royal visits, at around 2:50 p.m.
Inside Rideau Hall, the Queen will be sworn in as a member of the King's Privy Council. Officials said Prince Philip was similarly a member of Queen Elizabeth's Privy Council in Canada.
On Tuesday, King Charles will read the Liberal government's throne speech inside the Senate chamber.
The day will begin at 9:50 a.m. Tuesday with a parade along Wellington Street.
The Royal couple will travel in the state landau, a horse-drawn carriage, and will be escorted by members of the RCMP musical ride from the Bank of Canada to the Senate.
There, an honour guard will greet them and King Charles is set to inspect the guard and band before a 21-gun salute is offered.
The public is allowed to attend the parade but there will be traffic restrictions and security in place along the route.
Inside the Senate, invited guests will include members of Parliament, former prime ministers and governors general, along with the current Governor General, Mary Simon, and lieutenant-governors from across the country.
The Supreme Court of Canada justices are invited to attend, as are Indigenous leaders including Assembly of First Nations National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami President Natan Obed and Métis National Council President Victoria Pruden.
The speech itself is set to get underway at around 11:10 a.m. and will be broadcast and livestreamed.
The day will end with a wreath-laying at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier after the throne speech has concluded. King Charles and Queen Camilla are set to return to the United Kingdom on Tuesday afternoon.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 20, 2025.
Sarah Ritchie, The Canadian Press
