The Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III

Backgrounder
May 5, 2023

Facts

  • Canada is a constitutional monarchy, and The King is Canada’s Head of State
  • His Majesty King Charles III succeeded to the Throne on September 8, 2022, following the death of Queen Elizabeth II
  • His Majesty’s Coronation is the first to take place in 70 years due to the long reign of the late Queen Elizabeth II
  • The Lieutenant Governor is the King’s representative in Ontario
  • The King, as Prince of Wales, has made 19 official, working or private visits to Canada and commanded HMS Hermes (Royal Navy) in 1975 for 35 days in Canadian waters around the Canadian Maritime Provinces

Visits by the King as Prince of Wales to Toronto

As Prince of Wales, His Majesty visited Toronto six times between 1979 and 2012:

  • April 1 to 7, 1979 – Visits to military regiments
  • October 23 to 29, 1991 – Visit with the late Diana, Princess of Wales to City Hall, the Prince of Wales Business Forum, the Art Gallery of Ontario, the Royal Ontario Museum and the Don Valley River to discuss conservation efforts
  • April 23 to 29, 1996 – Visit to Toronto in HMY Britannia, including visits to charitable and environmental groups
  • April 30, 2001 – Visit to the Distillery District for an arts gala
  • November 4 to 6, 2009 – Visit with the then Duchess of Cornwall to Canadian Business for Social Responsibility, the Royal Conservatory of Music, regimental events with the Royal Regiment of Canada and Toronto Scottish Regiment, the opening of the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair and touring the Evergreen Brick Works and Prince’s Trust events
  • May 21 to 22, 2012 – Visit with the Duchess of Cornwall on Victoria Day weekend to mark the Diamond Jubilee and dedicate a street in the Distillery District to be renamed the “Front Street Diamond Jubilee Promenade,” visit to the Pan/Parapan Games Athletes’ Village and attended a reception in the Distillery District, visit to the Yonge Street Mission (ysm.ca), TMU Digital Media Zone and U for Change, as well as to present Diamond Jubilee Medals at Queen’s Park. The Royal couple also attended fireworks at Ashbridges Bay on the evening of Victoria Day.

Regimental Affiliations of Their Majesties

Charitable Patronages

Symbolism in the City’s ceremonial tree planting ceremony for His Majesty’s Coronation

Oak tree: The planting of the oak tree is a tribute to the King’s long-standing commitment and contributions towards protecting the environment. The planting of trees to mark Royal celebrations was also undertaken in the reign of the late Queen and previous Coronations. Notably, the oak tree was designated as Toronto’s Official Tree and arboreal emblem last spring. At a later date, a commemorative plaque bearing the Canadian Coronation Emblem will be placed beside the oak tree to mark the occasion.

Tobacco offering to the land: The area around the newly-planted oak tree will be sprinkled with tobacco from the City’s Treaty Partner, the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation. This act honours Indigenous traditions, knowledge and practices for which the new monarch has great respect. Tobacco is considered one of the four sacred medicines, with the others being cedar, sage and sweetgrass. Tobacco connects people to nature and one another and is thought to be the first plant given to Indigenous peoples by the Creator. Additionally, the King has long believed that people are all connected to the land and to the water.

Coronation Park: Located on the shore of Lake Ontario, the park holds special significance to the occasion. It is already home to a Royal Oak commemorating the Coronation of the King’s grandfather, King George VI. The park was officially dedicated in 1939 during the visit of King George VI and his wife, Queen Elizabeth (the Queen Mother). This oak is surrounded by a ring of maples and other trees planted to honour Canadian participation in the First World War and other Commonwealth countries with whom Canada fought. The park is also the site of the Victory-Peace monument, which commemorates the Second World War.

Additional Resources

A full list of celebrations and community projects across the country for His Majesty’s Coronation is available on the Government of Canada’s dedicated web portal.

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