It is clear that many Canadians are very upset with President Donald Trump.
As King Charles set foot on Canadian soil for the first time since ascending the throne yesterday, the phrase "welcome home" from the country's Governor General seems very befitting.
For Canadians, Charles is not only their sovereign and King but, crucially, their Head of State.
His presence serves as a powerful reminder of the country’s sovereignty and independence - values many Canadians now feel are under threat.
King Charles has been welcomed to Canada as a symbol of the country sovereignty and independence.
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It is a brief 20 hour visit, but it is obvious that some Canadians are looking to their monarch to embody and defend those ideals.
I’ve been following the King throughout the day.
There is the usual pomp and ceremony, of course, but the atmosphere carries something different - a mood of genuine excitement and hope.
Could this be a turning point from historical colonial grievances to a focus on national unity?
The royal visit has been met with excited reaction by the Canadian's.
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This coming at a time when Canada's vocal neighbour suggests the country should become the 51st state of the United States of America.
At Ottawa’s airport, school children brought onto the tarmac to greet Their Majesties told me how thrilled they were to see the King and Queen.
Surprisingly, many of these younger Canadians, often presumed to favour republicanism, insisted that Canada's connection to the Crown should extend for generations to come.
To them, King Charles has emerged as a symbolic guardian of the nation - an embodiment of Canadian unity and identity and, crucially, different from the Untied States.
Charles has been cheered on by Canadian's amid their country's tense relations with the United States.
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That said, republican support has not vanished; a handful of ‘Not My King’ protesters appeared at a cultural event in Lansdowne Park, but they were vastly outnumbered by royal fans.
Perhaps in less stormy geopolitical times, the monarchy would attract more indifference, but the backlash to President Trump's talk of annexation appears to have renewed interest in the Crown’s role in Canada.
Outside Rideau Hall, the Governor General’s residence, some members of the public queued for hours for a chance to greet Their Majesties and witness the ceremonial tree planting in the gardens.
Again and again, ordinary Canadians expressed their strong opposition to any suggestion of American annexation, and placed a huge importance on their country's ties to the Crown.
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New Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has been keen to promote the visit amid tensions with Trump.
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Of course, as a constitutional monarch, there is only so much King Charles can say or do.
But his visit, engineered by Prime Minister Carney at a politically opportune moment, has taken on deeper significance.
Mark Carney was largely elected on an anti-Trump platform, so all eyes are on the government-written King’s speech tomorrow, as His Majesty opens the 45th session of the Canadian Parliament.
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