Programme for the State Visit to Canada

Tuesday 18 November

Official welcoming ceremony and bilateral meeting
The King and Queen are welcomed to Canada by Chief Justice Wagner in an official welcoming ceremony at Rideau Hall, the Governor General’s official residence and workplace. The welcoming ceremony includes military honours, the playing of national anthems, speeches by Chief Justice Wagner and The King, and the presentation of the official delegations. 
After the welcoming ceremony, The King and Queen and Ms Busch take part in a bilateral meeting with Chief Justice Wagner.Governor General Mary Simon - external website,
Rideau Hall - external website,

Wreath-laying ceremony
The King and Queen take part in a wreath-laying ceremony at the National War Memorial, a monument symbolising the sacrifice Canadians have made in wartime serving Canada in the cause of peace and freedom. Ms Busch attends together with the Swedish delegation.
National War Memorial | Veterans Affairs Canada  - external website,

Parliament
The King and Queen visit the Canadian Parliament together with Ms Busch. They are received by the Speaker of the Senate of Canada, Raymond Gagné, and the Speaker of the House of Commons of Canada, Francis Scarpaleggia. After a lunch hosted by the two Speakers, a welcoming ceremony takes place. 
Parliament of Canada - external website,

Meeting with the Prime Minister
After lunch, Prime Minister Mark Carney receives The King and Queen and Ms Busch for a bilateral meeting. The strategic partnership that has been entered into between Sweden and Canada will be highlighted in conjunction with the meeting.
Prime Minister of Canada - external website,

Canadian Museum of History
In the afternoon, The King and Queen visit the Canadian Museum of History together with their Canadian hosts. They are received by President and Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Museum of History Caroline Dromaguet, who gives a guided tour of parts of the museum’s exhibitions that reflect the events, people and objects that have shaped Canada’s history and identity. Reconciliation and relations with Indigenous peoples are at the heart of the museum’s work 
Canadian Museum of History - external website,

Meeting on Ukraine
The King and Queen and Ms Busch take part in a meeting on how Sweden and Canada can work more closely together within the framework of the strategic partnership to support Ukraine, ‘Canada–Sweden Strategic Partnership in Action: Supporting a Resilient Ukraine’. The meeting, hosted by Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Anita Anand, takes place at the National Arts Centre. Ukraine’s Ambassador to Canada Andrii Plakhotniuk and others represent Ukraine.

State Banquet
In the evening, the Canadian hosts hold a State Banquet at Rideau Hall in honour of The King and Queen.

Wednesday 19 November

Sweden-Canada Innovation Days
Wednesday’s programme begins with The King and Ms Busch participating in Sweden-Canada Innovation Days, which are taking place at the Canada Science and Technology Museum and aim to strengthen commercial relations and promote cooperation in innovation, trade and investment, including in the green and digital transitions. This year’s edition is the fifth and has the theme of defence and security, electrification and advanced technology. The Sweden-Canada Innovation Days event is organised by Business Sweden, Vinnova and the Swedish Energy Agency. Guests are welcomed by representatives of the organising bodies, including CEO of Business Sweden Jan Larsson, CEO of Vinnova Darja Isaksson and President and CEO of Canada’s Museums of Science and Innovation Christina Tessier. The King gives an opening address, Ms Busch and Canada’s Minister of Industry Mélanie Joly give speeches and outline details of the strategic partnership between Sweden and Canada. A number of successful companies are presented, after which The King and Ms Busch visit an exhibition of innovative small and medium-sized Swedish companies. 
Take part in Sweden-Canada Innovation Days 2025 - external website,

Nunavut Sivuniksavut College
The Queen and the Governor-General’s husband, Mr Whit Fraser, visit Nunavut Sivuniksavut College, which offers programmes to empower Inuit youth through academic education, cultural connection and personal development. They are received by Executive Director Martha Kyak. After a traditional welcome, students demonstrate various skills that are taught at the college, such as lighting a traditional qulliq oil lamp and writing names in Inuktitut.
Nunavut Sivuniksavut - external website,

Technology and innovation cooperation between Sweden and Canada
The King and Queen and Ms Busch take part in a meeting on the digital transformation at Ericsson’s R&D Centre outside Ottawa. Topics for discussion include the advanced Swedish-Canadian high-tech collaboration, innovation and the value of attracting talent. Guests are welcomed by the Chair of the Board of Ericsson Jan Carlson, Head of Radio & Transport Engineering Anna Dicander and President of Ericsson Canada Nishant Grover. A welcome address by Mr Carlson is followed by the presentation of various projects that have entered an innovation competition, and a tour of the development centre.

Lunch with business representatives
The King and Queen and Ms Busch take part in a lunch hosted by the Canadian Business Council, with representatives from the Swedish and Canadian business communities.

Arctic Security and Defence Roundtable
The King and Mr Jonsson take part in a roundtable discussion at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute, together with Canada’s Minister of National Defence David McGuinty and Swedish and Canadian experts, on security and defence in the Arctic, ‘Neighbours in the North: Swedish-Canadian Cooperation on Security and Defence in the Arctic’.

National Gallery of Canada
The Queen visits the National Gallery of Canada in the company of Ms Busch. They are welcomed by Director and CEO Jean-Francois Bélisle, who gives a guided tour of the exhibition ‘Winter Count: Embracing the Cold’.
National Gallery of Canada - external website,
Winter Count: Embracing the Cold - external website,

Meeting with expatriate Swedes
The King and Queen, Ms Busch and Mr Jonson meet expatriate Swedes at the Swedish ambassador’s residence, hosted by Ambassador Signe Burgstaller. The King and Ms Busch will both give speeches.

Dinner
The King and Queen host a dinner for their Canadian hosts.

Thursday 20 November

The third day of the State Visit takes place in Montreal, Quebec.

Swedish-Canadian cooperation in security, defence and technology
The King and Queen, Ms Busch and Mr Jonson take part in a meeting on Swedish-Canadian cooperation in security, defence and technology, held at Bombardier Aerospace. They are welcomed by the CEO of Bombardier Éric Martel, and given a tour of the factory.  

Meeting with the Premier of Quebec
The King and Queen and Ms Busch and Mr Jonson then pay a courtesy visit to the Premier of Quebec, François Legault.

Lunch 
The Lieutenant-Governor of Quebec, Ms Manon Jeannotte, hosts a lunch attended by The King and Queen and members of the Swedish delegation.

Bridging the artificial intelligence gap
The programme in Montreal concludes with the King and Queen, Ms Busch and Mr Jonson visiting the Quebec Artificial Intelligence Institute, Mila. They are welcomed by Executive Vice President Stéphane Létourneau and Scientific Director Hugo Larochelle. After an introduction to the Institute’s activities and a tour, where there is an opportunity to meet students and researchers, a panel discussion takes place entitled ‘A Sweden-Canada Dialogue on AI Leadership and Innovation’.

The State Visit concludes in the evening with the departure of the King and Queen from Canada.