Canada's new prime minister Mark Carney has met Sir Keir Starmer in Downing Street this evening, with the UK leader welcoming the relationship between the "two sovereign allies".
The former Bank of England governor also met King Charles , who is Canada's head of state, at Buckingham Palace where Mr Carney told the monarch they had "much to catch up on".
The visit to the UK comes as US President Donald Trump has been threatening Canada's sovereignty by repeatedly suggesting he would make it the 51st US state - something Mr Carney called "disrespectful" in a press conference this evening.
Mr Carney, who was sworn in on Friday , succeeded Justin Trudeau as Canada's prime minister and leader of the Liberal Party.
He had arrived in London from Paris, where he met French President Emmanuel Macron as he seeks to shore up European alliances at a critical time for relations between Canada and its bigger neighbour, the US.
At the press conference, Mr Carney brushed off a query regarding allied support for Canada’s status as a nation, stating: “We do not require validation of our sovereignty from any other country; we are inherently sovereign.”
Sir Keir described it as "fantastic" to have Mr Carney in the UK at this stage of his term, adding that the connection between the two nations has consistently been robust.
Two royal confederates, bound by their extensive similarities, intertwined histories, mutual principles, and a reigning monarch in unison.
Earlier, the King was pictured grinning as he shook Mr Carney's hand in the 1844 Room of the royal residence.
Footage from the meeting showed the King telling Mr Carney: "Very good to see you. Congratulations."
Mr Carney replied as they shook hands: "Your Majesty. Lovely to see you...Thank you very much."
He told the King pointing to his own lapel: "Bit of a disaster today sir. My Order of Canada pin broke."
Mr Carney added: "Indeed. It landed on the runway... which demonstrates that our origins lie with the British." This comment elicited a laugh from the King.
The monarch extended his pin prior to informing his guest, "It's wonderful to see you once more," to which Mr Carney responded, "There's much to discuss."
At his inauguration event on Friday, Mr Carney highlighted that the nation was founded upon the foundation of three groups: French, British, and Indigenous Peoples.
He also mentioned that Canada is inherently distinct from America and will “never, under any circumstances, in any way, shape, or form, become part of the United States.”
Mr Carney aims to navigate his nation through a trade conflict initiated by Mr Trump who has imposed a 25% slap tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum and is threatening comprehensive duties imposed on all goods coming from Canada starting April 2nd .
Canada, which is the biggest foreign supplier of steel and aluminium to the US, last week announced 25% retaliatory tariffs on those metals along with computers, sports equipment and other products worth $20bn in total.
Meanwhile, Sir Keir and Mr Carney also spoke about the war in Ukraine. Canada has been taking part in discussions around a coalition of countries which could contribute to a peacekeeping force in Ukraine.
The country took part in a virtual meeting of world leaders hosted by Sir Keir on Saturday, focused on the so-called "coalition of the willing", alongside Australia and New Zealand as well as European nations.
The Canadian premier told Sir Keir: "We're at a point in history where the world is being reordered, and your leadership, the leadership of the UK, I'll use the example... of Ukraine, what you've been able to do with President Macron to bring together a coalition of the willing at a crucial time, I think, will be decisive, must be decisive, in coming to a lasting solution there."
