(LONDON) Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Governor General Mary Simon and astronaut Jeremy Hansen were among Canadian dignitaries at Westminster Abbey on Saturday morning to attend the coronation of King Charles III.
It was drizzling as the Canadian delegation entered this historic church.
Indigenous leaders were also on the Canadian guest list, including Assembly of First Nations National Chief RoseAnne Archibald, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami President Natan Obed and Métis National Council President Cassidy Caron. .
In an interview before the coronation, Ralph Goodale, Canada’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, underlined the close ties between the two countries.
He cited the prominent position of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) in the procession and the fact that Charles met with Canadian Indigenous leaders just before the coronation.
“As a member of the Commonwealth, Canada is recognized as a country that has very close and enduring relationships with the United Kingdom and the monarchy. Canada’s participation in these activities is very important,” Mr. Goodale said.
“If you look at the mall, in the middle of all the Union Jacks, the first non-British flag you’ll see is the Canadian flag. Canada has this distinction within the Commonwealth and it is important to us and to Buckingham Palace,” he said.
According to Mr. Goodale, a Canadian King Charles tour is “in the planning stages”.
“The options are currently being considered as to the time of year, and then there will be the hard questions of where they would go. Choosing the route will be difficult,” Mr. Goodale said.
