‘It may be merely symbolic but King Charles began specifically wearing Canadian military honours in public, after his visit with Justin Trudeau,’ wrote MP Hedy Fry on X
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King Charles III wore Canadian military honours on Tuesday, the day after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met the monarch in the United Kingdom.
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In a private conversation at Sandringham House, they discussed “matters of importance to Canadians — including, above all, Canada’s sovereign and independent future,” Trudeau said in a post on X. This comes after U.S. President Donald Trump repeatedly said that he wants Canada to become a 51st state.
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Although the king has not commented on the matter publicly, the Canadian military honours he wore on Wednesday while on a visit with the Royal Navy are being seen as a subtle show of solidarity among some online. Displayed on his uniform, alongside honours from other commonwealth countries, were the Order of Canada, Order of Military Merit, and Canadian Forces Decoration.
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King Charles wore the honours while visiting the HMS Prince of Wales ahead of its departure to Japan, the Royal Navy said in a news release on March 4.
As reported by the Toronto Star and Newsweek, King Charles does often wear his Canadian honours. However, a royal historian called his attire this week “quite significant” given his recent meeting with Trudeau. He is “finding subtle ways to demonstrate his support for Canadian sovereignty,” Carolyn Harris told the Toronto Star. She is a royal commentator and history instructor at the University of Toronto’s School of Continuing Studies.
Some social media users also pointed out the possibility that King Charles could be hinting at his support of Canada.
“Similar to Queen Elizabeth II, has King Charles just used his attire to make a diplomatic/emotional statement?” asked @Canadian_Crown, an Ottawa-based X account that posts about royal-related topics, including King Charles, royal history in Canada and the Royal Family working in Canada.
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A former Public Health Ontario media relations advisor also took notice. “Charles is sending us and the world a message, a LOUD message,” Mike Gerald Gibbs wrote in a post on X.
Hedy Fry, Member of Parliament for Vancouver Centre, said in a post on X that wearing Canadian military honours “may be merely symbolic,” but noted the timing. She said the king “specifically” wore them in public after his visit with Trudeau.
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Canadian musician and actor Morgan Cameron Ross, who runs social media accounts dedicated to Canadian history, also took note of King Charles’ choice to wear Canadian military decorations.
“King Charles III choosing to wear Canadian military decorations and honours, including the Order of Canada and Canadian Order of Military Merit while inspecting a British aircraft carrier this week after meeting with the Canadian Prime Minister,” wrote Ross in a post on X.
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The theory that King Charles was showing support for Canada through his choice of military honours was not universally accepted. Royal commentator Rafe Heydel-Mankoo refuted the fact that King Charles was making a “political statement.”
In a post on X, Heydel-Mankoo said King Charles was “wearing his standard navel uniform and medal ribbon bar, which ALWAYS includes (His Majesty’s) U.K., Canadian, Australian and (New Zealand) orders and medals.”
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Other royals have used what they wear to convey messages or show solidarity. Princess Diana, who advocated for those battling AIDS, wore a red ribbon on her lapel at a time when the illness was widely feared and misunderstood. She famously shook hands with a patient who had AIDS, deciding not to wear gloves and breaking royal protocol by doing so.
Other celebrities were “encouraged by Princess Diana’s high profile support for AIDS,” according to UNAIDS, a group dedicated to ending the disease.
The late Queen Elizabeth II may have also used her outfits and accessories to convey subtle messages.
When Trump visited the U.K. in 2018, she wore a variety of brooches during his stay, including a flower brooch — “a gift from his rivals, the Obamas,” the Art Newspaper reported. On the second day of Trump’s visit, she wore a sapphire snowflake brooch gifted to her from the Canadian people, “a country Trump derided,” per the publication.
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