The Royal flag is unveiled by Samy Khalid, left, Chief Herald of Canada at the Canadian Heraldic Authority and Donald Booth, Canadian Secretary to the King during coronation celebrations in honour of King Charles III in Ottawa, on Saturday, May 6, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Spencer Colby
OTTAWA – The federal government honoured the coronation of King Charles III, Canada’s new head of state, with a ceremony of its own in the nation’s capital this morning.
Elected officials and dignitaries attended the ceremony in Ottawa with speeches, musical performances and special unveilings.
Leaders of federal parties, including the NDP’s Jagmeet Singh and the Conservative’s Pierre Poilievre, were absent from the event.
Speaking to attendees, Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc says millions of Canadians are witnessing the coronation of Canada’s sovereign for the first time in a country that is radically different from the one that witnessed the last coronation.
He says as Canada evolves, its institutions do as well, including the monarchy.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Gov. Gen Mary Simon are in London for the official coronation event, along with a Canadian delegation.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 6, 2023.
