King Charles delivers the throne speech today. Here’s what you need to know.

By: The Canadian Press Posted: 3:00 AM CDT Tuesday, May. 27, 2025

OTTAWA - King Charles will read the speech from the throne this morning, which sets out the government's priorities for the current session of Parliament.

Read this article for free:

or

Already have an account? Log in here »

To continue reading, please subscribe:

*Billed as $4.00 plus GST every four weeks. After 24 weeks, price increases to the regular rate of $19.00 plus GST every four weeks. Offer available to new and qualified returning subscribers only. Cancel any time.

*Billed as $19 plus GST every four weeks. Cancel any time.

OTTAWA - King Charles will read the speech from the throne this morning, which sets out the government's priorities for the current session of Parliament.

Read unlimited articles for free today:

or

Already have an account? Log in here »

OTTAWA – King Charles will read the speech from the throne this morning, which sets out the government’s priorities for the current session of Parliament.

Here are some facts about this historic event.

— King Charles III will be the first monarch to use the new throne in the Senate of Canada building.

Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau looks on as Queen Elizabeth II reads the speech from the throne in the Senate chamber, officially opening the session of Parliament, in Ottawa on Oct. 18, 1977. THE CANADIAN PRESS

— There have been 152 speeches from the throne since Confederation.

— Throne speeches in Canada were read by Queen Elizabeth II in 1957 and 1977.

— The first throne speech was delivered in 1867 by Viscount Monck, Canada’s first governor general.

— The first 10 throne speeches clocked in at an average length of 854 words, while the 2021 throne speech ran to 2,771 words.

— When the monarch or governor general arrives in Parliament for the ceremony, the Canadian flag on the Peace Tower is replaced with their flag.

— After the throne speech is read aloud, Bill S-1, An Act relating to railways, is introduced. This bill is never meant to pass into law and serves instead as a symbol of the Senate’s independence from the monarch. The Senate of Canada website says introducing the bill shows that the Senate is “able to deal with any matter of its choosing” without having to follow the throne speech.

– Source: Senate of Canada

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 27, 2025.