King Charles and Queen Camilla have issued a heartfelt statement of gratitude as they departed Canada following their brief but significant royal tour.
The royal couple expressed their appreciation for the warm welcome they received during the visit.
"As my wife and I leave Canada, we wanted to send our most heartfelt thanks to all those who turned out to offer their support on this, my first visit as sovereign," the King and Queen said.
"It was the warmest of welcomes - and the fondest of returns to a land and a people we love," they added, concluding with: "Until the next time, au revoir, Canada, et avec tous nos remerciements."
King Charles and Queen Camilla issue personal statement as they prepare for UK return
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The statement was signed: "Charles R and Camilla R", indicating it is a personal message from Their Majesties.
The whirlwind royal visit lasted less than 24 hours but made a significant impact on the Canadian public. Upon their arrival on 26 May, the royal couple were greeted warmly by well-wishers at Landsdowne Park in Ottawa.
Some Canadians called out "welcome home" to the King, who was making his 20th official visit to the country, but first as sovereign. Others simply thanked the couple for coming.
The 76-year-old monarch, who is still undergoing weekly cancer treatments, and Queen Camilla, 77, participated in a community event where they met representatives from organisations across Canada.
The centrepiece of the royal visit was King Charles' historic address to the Canadian legislature on 27 May, making him only the second monarch to open Parliament in this manner. The King's mother, Queen Elizabeth II, was the first and only previous sovereign to deliver such a speech in October 1957.
King Charles has demonstrated his alliance with Mark Carney as he and Queen Camilla visit CanadaReutersThe royal couple arrived at the senate in grand style, transported in a landau carriage escorted by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Musical Ride in their distinctive red tunics. They were welcomed with a royal salute and a 100-person guard of honour before King Charles delivered his speech in both English and French.
In his address, King Charles carefully navigated the diplomatic sensitivities between Canada and its southern neighbour, the United States. This comes amid tensions following Canadian Prime Minister Carney's recent election victory, widely interpreted as a rejection of President Trump's agenda.
The King noted that Prime Minister Carney and President Trump "have begun defining a new economic and security relationship between Canada and the U.S., rooted in mutual respect and founded on common interests."
He emphasised Canadian sovereignty, declaring: "As the anthem reminds us: The True North is indeed strong and free!" The monarch also highlighted Canada's potential to "build a coalition of like-minded countries that share its values."
Queen Camilla sat beside her husband during his speechReutersLATEST ROYAL NEWS:
King Charles pictured speaking to former Canadian Prime Minister Justin TrudeauReutersThe royal couple's schedule included several other significant engagements during their brief stay. Following the Parliamentary ceremony, they visited the National War Memorial, where they paid their respects and laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
King Charles held an audience with Governor General Mary Simon before meeting with Prime Minister Carney. The visit also marked an important milestone for Queen Camilla, who was sworn in as a member of the Canadian Privy Council.
Together, the couple planted a commemorative tree at Rideau Hall, the official residence of the governor general, near a sugar maple they had previously planted in 2017.
Their day concluded with a reception honouring Canada's provincial lieutenant governors and territorial commissioners.
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