King Charles will travel to Canada later this month and deliver the speech from the throne on May 27."This historic honour matches the weight of our times," Prime Minister Mark Carney said on Friday as he announced the news.

Britain's King Charles will attend Canada's state opening of parliament in Ottawa, Buckingham Palace said on Friday, in a clear show of support for the former British colony of which he is still head of state.

Queen Elizabeth’s father, King George VI, was the first reigning monarch to visit Canada. While he did not deliver a throne speech, he did address Canada and the Commonwealth from Government House Winnipeg on May 24, 1939. He delivered the broadcasted speech on Empire Day; a holiday celebrated to this day, but renamed Victoria Day.