Canada’s new Prime Minister Mark Carney has met the King this afternoon, and will meet Sir Keir Starmer later, as part of his first foreign trip since being sworn in.
The former Bank of England governor met King Charles, who is Canada’s head of state, at Buckingham Palace after succeeding Justin Trudeau as Canada’s prime minister.
The King was pictured grinning as he shook Mr Carney’s hand in the 1844 Room of the royal residence.
Footage from the meeting shows the King telling Mr Carney: “Very good to see you. Congratulations.”
Mr Carney replied as they shook hands: “Your Majesty. Lovely to see you…Thank you very much.”
He told the King pointing to his own lapel: “Bit of a disaster today sir. My Order of Canada pin broke.”
Mr Carney added, prompting a chuckle from the King: “Yes. It fell on the tarmac… which is proof that our founding people is the British.”
The King offered his pin before telling his visitor, “it’s a great treat to see you again” with Mr Carney replying: “Much to catch up on.”
Mr Carney, who was sworn in on Friday, will also be meeting Sir Keir during his trip to London.
Mr Carney arrived from Paris, where he met French President Emmanuel Macron as he seeks to shore up European alliances at a critical time for relations between Canada and its bigger neighbour, the US.
During his swearing-in ceremony, Mr Carney noted the country was built on the bedrock of three peoples: French, Britlish and Indigenous.
He also said Canada is fundamentally different from America and will “never, ever, in any way shape or form, be part of the United States”.
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It comes as American President Donald Trump has been threatening Canada’s sovereignty by repeatedly suggesting he would make it the 51st US state.
Mr Carney will try to steer his country through a trade war brought by Mr Trump, who has slapped 25% tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminium and is threatening sweeping tariffs on all Canadian products from 2 April.
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Canada, which is the biggest foreign supplier of steel and aluminium to the US, last week announced 25% retaliatory tariffs on those metals along with computers, sports equipment and other products worth $20bn in total.
“I want to ensure that France, and the whole of Europe, works enthusiastically with Canada, the most European of non-European countries, and at the same time resolutely North American, determined, like you, to maintain the most positive relations possible with the United States,” Mr Carney said Monday, standing next to Mr Macron.
