The monarchy of Canada is Canada's form of government embodied by the Canadian sovereign and head of state. It is one of the key components of Canadian sovereignty and sits at the core of Canada's constitutional federal structure and Westminster-style parliamentary democracy. The monarchy is the foundation of the executive (King-in-Council),legislative (King-in-Parliament),and judicial (King-on-the-Bench) branches of both federal and provincial jurisdictions. The current monarch is King Charles III,who has reigned since 8 September 2022.
Parliament Hill,colloquially known as The Hill,is an area of Crown land on the southern bank of the Ottawa River that houses the Parliament of Canada in downtown Ottawa,Ontario,Canada. It accommodates a suite of Gothic revival buildings whose architectural elements were chosen to evoke the history of parliamentary democracy. Parliament Hill attracts approximately three million visitors each year. The Parliamentary Protective Service is responsible for law enforcement on Parliament Hill and in the parliamentary precinct,while the National Capital Commission is responsible for maintaining the nine-hectare (22-acre) area of the grounds.
The royal standards of Canada are a set of personal flags used by members of the Canadian royal family to denote the presence of the bearer within any vehicle,building,or area within Canada or when representing Canada abroad. All are based on a banner of the coat of arms of Canada,which are the arms of the Canadian monarch.
The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is a tomb situated before the National War Memorial in Confederation Square,Ottawa,Ontario. The tomb is dedicated to Canadian service members,and holds the remains of an unidentified Canadian soldier who died in France during the First World War;selected from a Commonwealth War Grave near Vimy,in the vicinity where the Battle of Vimy Ridge took place. A similar memorial was installed in June of 2024 at the National War Memorial in St. John's,Newfoundland to contain the unidentified Great War remains of a soldier of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment.
The commissioner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police is the professional head of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). The commissioner exercises control and management of the RCMP under the direction of the minister of public safety. The position is a Governor in Council appointment made on the advice of the prime minister of Canada.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police has,between 1969 and 2023,presented seven police service horses from the Musical Ride unit to two of Canada's monarchs:six horses to Queen Elizabeth II and one to King Charles III. PSH Burmese was used by Elizabeth for Trooping the Colour between 1969 and 1986. Charles has done the same with PSH Noble since 2023.
The Musical Ride of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police is a special unit showcasing the equestrian skills performed by 32 cavalry who are regular members of the force. It holds events held in Canada and worldwide to promote the RCMP. The first official ride was held in 1887 in Regina,District of Assiniboia,and was commanded by Inspector William George Matthews.
By the arrangements of the Canadian federation,Canada's monarchy operates in Manitoba as the core of the province's Westminster-style parliamentary democracy. As such,the Crown within Manitoba's jurisdiction is referred to as the Crown in Right of Manitoba,His Majesty in Right of Manitoba,or the King in Right of Manitoba. The Constitution Act,1867,however,leaves many royal duties in Manitoba specifically assigned to the sovereign's viceroy,the lieutenant governor of Manitoba,whose direct participation in governance is limited by the conventional stipulations of constitutional monarchy.
The relationship between the Canadian Crown and the Canadian Armed Forces is both constitutional and ceremonial,with the king of Canada being the commander-in-chief of the Canadian Forces and he and other members of the Canadian royal family holding honorary positions in various branches and regiments,embodying the historical relationship of the Crown with its armed forces. This construct stems from Canada's system of constitutional monarchy and through its 500 years of monarchical history,the relationship symbolically represented through royal symbols,such as crowns on military badges and insignia,coats of arms,royal portraits,and the grant of the royal prefix to various military units and institutions. The role of the Canadian sovereign within the Canadian Armed Forces is established within the Canadian constitution,the National Defence Act,and the King's Regulations and Orders (KR&Os) for the Canadian Forces.
The Usher of the Black Rod,often shortened to Black Rod is the most senior protocol position in the Parliament of Canada. Black Rod leads the Speaker's Parade at the beginning of each sitting of the Senate and oversees protocol and administrative and logistical details of important events taking place on Parliament Hill,such as the opening of parliament and the Speech from the Throne.
Kevin Stewart MacLeod is a former Canadian Secretary to the Queen,former Usher of the Black Rod for the Canadian Senate,and the author of the historical fiction novel,A Stone on Their Cairn / Clach air An Càrn.
The Canadian Coronation Contingent were members from the Canadian military and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police,who were assembled for the sole purpose of participating in the coronation ceremonies of the Canadian monarch in London,United Kingdom. Five Coronation Contingents have been mounted:in 1902,1911,1937,1953,and 2023.
State funerals in Canada are public events held to commemorate former governors general,prime ministers,other members of the cabinet who died in office,and,at the cabinet's discretion,other eminent Canadians. With ceremonial,military,and religious elements incorporated,state funerals are offered and executed by the governor general-in-council,who provides a dignified manner for the Canadian people to mourn a national public figure. Provincial and territorial governments may also perform state funerals for citizens in their particular jurisdictions. However,most state funerals are federal affairs.
Since 1786,members of the Canadian royal family have visited Canada,either as an official tour,a working tour,a vacation,or a period of military service. The first member to visit was the future King William IV in 1786. In 1939,King George VI became the first reigning monarch to tour the country.
The year 2012 marked the Diamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II being the 60th anniversary of the accession of Queen Elizabeth II on 6 February 1952. The only diamond jubilee celebration for any of Elizabeth's predecessors was in 1897,for Queen Victoria.
From an early age,Queen Elizabeth II took a keen interest in horses. Into her reign,this developed into one of her main leisure time activities with a particular emphasis on the breeding of thoroughbreds for horse racing.
Kevin Michael Vickers is a Canadian politician,former diplomat,and retired police officer. He served as the leader of the New Brunswick Liberal Association from 2019 to 2020,a retired Canadian diplomat,former Sergeant at Arms and former Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) officer. He was the Canadian Ambassador to Ireland from 2015 until 2019 and the ninth Sergeant-at-Arms of the House of Commons of Canada from 2006 to 2015.
Platinum Jubilee Celebration:A Gallop Through History was an equestrian event held in the grounds of Windsor Castle on four evenings from 12 to 15 May 2022,as part of Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
An Honours List on The Demise of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II,known as the Demise Honours,was released on 25 March 2023,following the death of Elizabeth II in 2022. It made appointments and promotions within the Royal Victorian Order and of the Royal Victorian Medal. Recipients included civilians and military personnel who were involved in the state funeral of Elizabeth II,as well as former members of her household.
