HM The King's speech at official reception in connection with state visit in Canada
Chateau Laurier, Ottawa, Canada
(The spoken version shall take precedence)
Right Honourable Richard Wagner, Chief Justice of Canada and Deputy of the Governor General,
Speaker,
Ministers,
Excellencies
Ladies and gentlemen,
First, Her Majesty the Queen and I would like to say we are sorry that the Governor-General is prevented from participating in this state visit. We want to express our sincere wishes for a swift recovery.
It is a pleasure to welcome you all to the beautiful Chateau Laurier, which is a National Historic Site of Canada. I have learned that this hotel was originally built more than a hundred years ago by a Canadian railway company to encourage tourists to travel its routes. And just by looking at the elegance of this building, one gets the impression that travelling by train must have been a far more pleasant experience than it is today!
Ladies and gentlemen,
After two days filled with impressions, this state visit has shown how much Canada and Sweden have in common. It has also made clear what we can learn from one another, and the great things we can achieve together by building even stronger ties.
The visit to the Sweden Canada Innovation Days earlier today was truly impressive, a showcase of cutting-edge ideas, creative energy and the close bonds between our innovation ecosystems. There is obviously great potential for more cooperation between our countries in these high-tech sectors. By working together, we can create solutions that advance our societies while addressing global challenges.
The round-table discussion on security and defence in the Arctic was a reminder of the challenges we face together in this region. But it also showed that our countries have strong knowledge and capabilities in Arctic issues, giving us good reason to be optimistic about the future.
Tomorrow, we look forward to a full day of exciting activities in Montreal.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Her Majesty the Queen and I would like to take this opportunity to thank Canada for the kind invitation and generous hospitality.
We would also like to thank everyone who helped make this State visit a success. Your dedication and commitment in preparing for the visit, and throughout these past two days, are a testament to the close bonds between our countries. Each of you has played, and will continue to play, an important role in our partnership. And I am confident that the relationship between Canada and Sweden will keep growing stronger.
Tonight, we are happy to share a taste of Sweden with you, through music from Sápmi and some Swedish food. I hope you will enjoy the evening.
And now, I propose a toast – skål!
