November 18, 2025

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It is a pleasure to welcome you back to Rideau Hall, which sits on the traditional territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabeg Nation.

It is an honour and a privilege to speak to you once again on behalf of Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary Simon, Governor General of Canada.

I trust Your Majesties had a pleasant day, and I hope it brought back fond memories of your previous visit to Ottawa in 2006, almost 20 years ago.

At that time, we celebrated the many ties that unite Swedes and Canadians, starting with the very special connection between His Majesty the King and Rideau Hall.

It may surprise some of you to learn that this was once the residence of the King’s great-grandfather.

His Majesty’s grandfather, King Gustaf Adolf of Sweden, married Princess Margaret—the eldest daughter of the Duke of Connaught, who served as Canada’s governor general from 1911 to 1916.

So yes, the Duke, His Majesty’s great-grandfather, once lived here.

We trust this family connection helps you feel even more at home.

Beyond this unique family connection, our two nations have built rich and varied ties over time—and not only through the exchange of outstanding hockey players.

We share values of solidarity, human rights, democracy, the rule of law and freedom of speech.

It is telling that Canada’s first honorary citizen, in 1985, was Raoul Wallenberg—a Swedish diplomat who saved tens of thousands of lives during the Holocaust.

Sweden and Canada share a vision of a world that is more inclusive and sustainable.

We share the conviction that free and open trade benefits everyone.   

Together, we have joined forces to advance human rights, strengthen international co-operation and promote global security.

And our impact has grown since Sweden joined NATO in 2024.

Canada extends its deepest gratitude to Sweden for its contributions to the NATO Multinational Brigade in Latvia—a mission Canada is proud to lead.

Our two nations also share a deep partnership in the Arctic.

Through the Arctic Council, we have worked to protect its fragile environment.

We have also supported Indigenous communities throughout the circumpolar region.

This is an important act of reconciliation.

And it echoes efforts in both Sweden and Canada to move forward on that path.

I commend Sweden’s initiative to establish a Truth Commission for the Sami People.

I am hopeful this will help your society learn and recognize its full history, just as Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission did for us.

Your Majesties, Our shared values make us natural friends and essential partners. 

Recent years have reminded us that nothing is guaranteed.

Not peace. Not democracy. Not the global economic order, nor the alliances we have long relied upon.

Sweden and Canada must remain steadfast defenders of these pillars. They are the foundation of stability and progress.

We must keep promoting a simple truth: we are all interconnected.

This truth is beautifully captured in the painting before us by Christi Belcourt—a Métis artist and activist. Through colours and patterns inspired by Métis beadwork, she reminds us of the deep interconnectedness of all life.

So, let us raise our glasses to that profound interconnectedness that binds us.

May we honour these ties, for our peoples today and for those yet to come.

Cheers!