By: Thomas I. Likness
Eagle News Service

(Eagle News) — Royal visits by Queen Elizabeth II always drew big crowds.

People would line the streets for hours just to catch a glimpse of Her Majesty.

Queen Elizabeth II had a bond with her subjects — and their love for her did not waver.

But that’s something that has eluded her son, King Charles III.

The king doesn’t seem to capture the Canadian public’s imagination like his mother did.

In Canada, the head of state was the queen and with her passing, now the king.

That could change in coming years.

Canada is divided on the relevance of the monarchy.

While people were saddened by the death of Queen Elizabeth II, going forward many of them think it’s time to sever ties with the crown.

“It’s really sad but for me it’s not that important,” said Edima Udo, a banker in Montreal. “I really think that Canada should move to a more independent approach compared to being stuck with the United Kingdom.”

But others still have that attachment to the magic of royalty.

“I think we’ve always followed and was always intrigued by the royal family,” said Juanita Leyne, a Montreal resident.

Severing ties with the monarchy would require a constitutional change in Canada.

It’s unlikely government’s have much appetite for that debate now while they try to wrestle with inflation and other economic woes.

As for King Charles III, he doesn’t spark a lot of interest among Canadians.

His visit to Canada this past May went almost unnoticed.

And that declining interest could spell the eventual end of the monarchy in Canada.

For most Canadians, Queen Elizabeth II was the only reigning monarch in their lifetime — she served for an incredible 70 years.
(Eagle News Service)