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Britain鈥檚 King Charles III arrived Monday in Ottawa on a visit that Canada鈥檚 leader says will underscore his nation鈥檚 sovereignty amid President Donald Trump鈥檚 talk of the United States annexing its northern neighbor.

Mr. Trump鈥檚 repeated suggestion that the U.S. annex Canada prompted Prime Minister Mark Carney to invite Charles to give the speech from the throne that will outline his government鈥檚 agenda for the new Parliament.

The king is the head of state in Canada, which is a member of the British Commonwealth of former colonies.

鈥淭his historic honor matches the weight of our times. It speaks to our enduring tradition and friendship, to the vitality of our constitutional monarchy and our distinct identity, and to the historic ties that crises only fortify,鈥� Mr. Carney said in a statement.

鈥淐anada鈥檚 strength lies in building a strong future while embracing its English, French, and Indigenous roots 鈥� the union of peoples that forms our bedrock.鈥�

Mr. Carney, the new prime minister and a former head of the Bank of England, and Canada鈥檚 first Indigenous governor general, Mary Simon, the king鈥檚 representative in Canada, greeted the king and Queen Camilla at the airport. A 25-member honor guard from the Royal Canadian Dragoons, for which the king is colonel-in-chief, was also on hand.

The king, in a taupe suit and red tie, later dropped the ceremonial first puck during a street hockey game at a community event.

Spectator Norman MacDonald said he鈥檚 鈥減roud鈥� the king came to Ottawa to deliver a message on behalf of Canadians.

鈥淐anada is not, obviously, for sale, and it鈥檚 not going to be bullied,鈥� he said.

Canadians stress their differences from the U.S.

It is rare for the monarch to deliver what鈥檚 called the speech from the throne in Canada. Charles鈥� mother, Queen Elizabeth II, did it twice in her 70-year reign, the last time in 1977.

Canadians are largely indifferent to the monarchy, but Mr. Carney has been eager to show the differences between Canada and the United States. The king鈥檚 visit clearly underscores Canada鈥檚 sovereignty, he said.

After America gained independence from Britain, Canada remained a colony until 1867 and afterward, continued as a constitutional monarchy with a British-style parliamentary system.

鈥淲e are different,鈥� former Quebec Premier Jean Charest said. 鈥淚f you look at why King Charles is reading the speech from the throne, then you have to then acknowledge Canada鈥檚 story.鈥�

However, the new U.S. ambassador to Canada, Pete Hoekstra, said sending messages isn鈥檛 necessary and Canadians should move on from the 51st state talk, telling the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation that if there鈥檚 a message to be sent there are easier ways to do that, such as calling him or calling the president.

Royal historian Carolyn Harris expects Mr. Trump to notice the visit because he has repeatedly spoken about his admiration for the royal family. Mr. Trump might see how different Canada is from the U.S.

鈥淚t is a very distinctive history that goes back to the waves of loyalists who settled here after the American revolution,鈥� Ms. Harris said. 鈥淎nd we鈥檙e going to seeing the king in a Canadian context, escorted by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, surrounded by Canadian symbolism. This is very much King Charles III in his role as King of Canada.鈥�

A royal invitation to Trump ruffles Canadians鈥� feathers

The speech, which will be delivered Tuesday, is not written by the king or his U.K. advisers as Charles serves as a nonpartisan head of state. He will read what is put before him by Canada鈥檚 government.

鈥淐harles can only act with the consent and with the advice of his prime minister. But at the same time he cannot act in a way that would throw any of the other 14 Commonwealth realms under the bus. So it is the finest tightrope to walk,鈥� said Justin Vovk, a Canadian royal historian.

Canadians were not happy when U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer extended a state visit invitation to Mr. Trump on behalf of the king during a time when Mr. Trump threatened Canada鈥檚 sovereignty.

鈥淭hey weren鈥檛 impressed by that gesture, quite simply, given the circumstance,鈥� Mr. Carney told Britain鈥檚 Sky News. 鈥淚t was a time when we were quite clear ... about the issues around sovereignty.鈥�

The king has more recently been showing support for Canada, including displaying Canadian military medals on his chest during a visit to a British aircraft carrier.

Charles will meet privately with Mr. Carney. And Camilla participated in a swearing-in ceremony to become a Canadian privy counsellor, a lifetime appointment that allows her to give advice about the country to the king.

The king will return to the U.K. after Tuesday鈥檚 speech and a visit to Canada鈥檚 National War Memorial.

This story was reported by the Associated Press.