King Charles' pointed speech to President Trump regarding the sovereignty of Canada was 'thought-provoking, but not provocative', sources have insisted.
In an historic speech to the country's parliament as their head of state on Tuesday, he hailed a 'strong and free' Canada in a clear attempt to dial down the president's rhetoric over the fellow North American nation becoming America's '51st state'.
Royal aides have said it was a deliberate decision by the King, acting on the advice of the Canadian government, to make his point firmly and politely but not to 'call out' President Trump by name.
'It's all about commending what is positive. And that's what the sovereign does, it's not the sovereign's job to start pointing fingers,' one insider said.
Whether it falls on receptive ears remains to be seen.
