Donald Trump’s anticipated official visit to England, following an invitation from King Charles III, has sparked speculation about a potentially tense atmosphere between the two leaders.
A recent event has further fueled this conjecture: the public appearance of the British monarch wearing Canadian military honors aboard a British Royal Navy aircraft carrier.
King Charles III, in his capacity as King of Canada and Great Britain, boarded HMS Prince of Wales on Tuesday, a day after meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in London to discuss sovereignty issues.
During his visit to the aircraft carrier, the monarch donned Canadian military decorations, including the Canadian Forces Decoration, the Order of Canada, and the Canadian Order of Military Merit.
This event has taken on particular significance in light of Donald Trump’s repeated statements about his desire to annex Canada to the United States.
What’s going on between King Charles and Donald Trump?
The resonance of these images quickly amplified, especially on social media.
Some users interpreted the choice of royal attire as a direct signal from King Charles III to Donald Trump, reaffirming his sovereignty over Canada in the context of Trump’s controversial insinuations about making Canada the 51st state of the United States.
A notable example of the reaction on social media was highlighted by Newsweek.
It was a post on X (formerly Twitter) that went viral, racking up 3 million views.
“Yesterday, King Charles was inspecting a British ship. And YET he did so dressed as King of Canada, wearing Canadian military decorations and Canadian honors, including the Order of Canada and the Canadian Order of Military Merit. Charles is sending us and the world a message, a LOUD message.”
This interpretation is not limited to social media. Carolyn Harris, a royal commentator and professor of history at the School of Continuing Studies at the University of Toronto, also emphasized the importance of the event.
Harris commented, “It’s quite significant to see King Charles III wearing these decorations in a British context right after meeting with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.”
She suggested that King Charles III was “finding subtle ways to demonstrate his support for Canadian sovereignty,” adding, “I think we may well see these subtle gestures of support again in the future.”
However, it is important to note that King Charles III frequently wears Canadian military honors alongside his Royal Navy uniform.
Indeed, he has done so in contexts where there did not appear to be a specific message directed at Donald Trump.
It is therefore crucial to consider whether this recent appearance represents an intentional signal or simply the continuation of a regular practice by the monarch.
While it is true that King Charles III’s choice to wear Canadian military honors has sparked speculation about possible tension with Donald Trump, it is vital to analyze the event within the broader context of the king’s customs and the political relations between the countries involved.
The true intent behind this choice, and its potential impact on the future relationship between King Charles III and Donald Trump, remains to be seen.
Yesterday King Charles was inspecting a British ship.
And YET he did so dressed as King of Canada wearing Canadian military decorations and Canadian honours, inc Order of Canada and Canadian Order of Military Merit.
Charles is sending us and the world a message, a LOUD message. pic.twitter.com/Fgp4Qej6DE
— Mike Gerald Gibbs🏳️🌈🍁 🇺🇦 (He/Him) (@Mikeggibbs) March 5, 2025