King Charles will walk a diplomatic tightrope as he opens Canada's Parliament for the first time, 48 years after his mother.

Fast forward to 2025, and a paradoxical shift has occurred in Canada's relationship with the Crown. In a transparent show of Canada's sovereignty and independence against threats from US President Donald Trump, Prime Minister Mark Carney - a Liberal - has invited King Charles the III to open the 45th Canadian parliament.

King Charles will make his inaugural visit to Canada as reigning monarch next week, and will deliver a speech from the throne that is expected to send a powerful message to Donald Trump