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Of course that鈥檚 a much weightier matter. But don鈥檛 dismiss the importance of having the King in Canada at this fraught moment. If anything can shine a bright light on why it鈥檚 so ludicrous to think this country would ever become the 51st聽state of the U.S.A., that鈥檚 it.

I鈥檝e never understood why certain self-identified Canadian nationalists react so negatively to the monarchy. They usually argue that it鈥檚 some kind of foreign imposition that holds us back from being truly independent and fully 鈥淐anadian.鈥�

But the threat to Canadian independence doesn鈥檛 come from across the ocean. It鈥檚 right next door. And the monarchy, personified by Charles as the King of Canada, makes clear in the most unmistakable way that this is a different country, with its own distinct history, politics and traditions. That it鈥檚 not just a big but formless patch of resource-rich territory available for acquisition by the Great Republic to the south.

It鈥檚 clear Trump has no inkling of this. He doesn鈥檛 get the point of Canada as Canada, as a separate nation from the United States. I think he honestly feels he鈥檚 doing us a favour by saying we should become a state. Some Americans have been thinking that way since at least the 1770s, when they sent an army to invade Quebec and were shocked when the locals didn鈥檛 rush to join their revolution against Great Britain.

Our distinct traditions are made clear every time a government delivers a throne speech, usually read by the Governor General in Ottawa or a lieutenant governor in a provincial legislature. But it鈥檚 been almost half a century since the monarch performed the task in person 鈥� since 1977, in fact, when in both official languages for the government of Pierre Trudeau.

Getting Charles to do the deed this time, on relatively short notice, shows Carney has real clout with Buckingham Palace as well as an appreciation for the importance of this moment. It will add an extra layer of significance to the opening of Parliament and give his minority government a bit of a glow as it gets down to business.

It shows Charles gets the point, too. There鈥檚 been griping in some quarters that the King hasn鈥檛 done more to defend Canada鈥檚 sovereignty. There are strict limits on what a monarch can do or say on a political matter 鈥� and it鈥檚 even trickier for one who鈥檚 also the head of state of other countries. But coming to Ottawa, even as he continues treatment for cancer, is an unmissable statement of support.

I鈥檒l bet even Trump will be impressed. British PM shamelessly in February when he visited the president and presented him with a personal invitation from Charles to make a second state visit to Britain. Trump seemed genuinely chuffed; he clearly respects the monarchy and its trappings, if only as one showman to another. The fact that Carney has an actual king on his side won鈥檛 be lost on him.

For Canadians, especially those who aren鈥檛 quite sure why we have a monarchy, it will serve as a useful reminder that the institution actually plays an important role in this country. No doubt there will be chatter about Charles being a 鈥渇oreign king,鈥� but it鈥檚 been an awfully long time since the monarchy was something imposed on Canadians. We still have it because it serves a purpose and Charles鈥檚 visit will make that even clearer.

And then, his job done, he and Queen Camilla will go home to London. It鈥檚 a perfect arrangement 鈥� Monarchy Lite, if you like. No need for Canadians to deal with the expense and often messy fallout of having a Royal Family underfoot. We鈥檒l be able to get back to the hard work of dealing with actual problems 鈥� but just a little bit stronger and more confident.