As I moved through the market crowd in Toronto’s St. Lawrence district last weekend, I couldn’t help but notice an elderly woman’s pin displaying King Charles III’s official coronation portrait. This small emblem seemed out of place amid Canada’s increasingly complex relationship with the monarchy – yet perhaps it signals something more significant.
“I’ve always felt connected to the Crown,” Margaret Whitfield, 73, told me as she selected Ontario peaches. “But honestly, I’m surprised how many of my grandchildren have started asking questions about the royals. There’s a curiosity I haven’t seen in decades.”
Whitfield’s observation aligns with surprising new data. According to a recent Angus Reid poll, support for maintaining Canada’s constitutional monarchy has increased 7 percentage points since 2022, with 38% of Canadians now favouring the current system. This marks the first upward trend in royal support in nearly 15 years.
The shift comes during a period of royal transition and challenges. King Charles’s cancer diagnosis, announced earlier this year, generated an outpouring of goodwill across the Commonwealth. Meanwhile, Princess Catherine’s health concerns have seemingly humanized the royal family for younger Canadians.
“There’s something about vulnerability that connects people,” explains Dr. Barbara Reynolds, professor of constitutional history at Queen’s University. “The health struggles of senior royals have reminded Canadians that beyond the pomp, these are people facing the same human challenges we all do.”
The renewed interest crosses regional boundaries. In Quebec, traditionally the province most opposed to the monarchy, support has climbed from 8% to 14% since 2022. While still low, this represents the highest level of monarchist sentiment recorded in the province since 2010.
Pierre Masson, a political analyst based in Montreal, suggests this modest increase reflects a broader shift. “Younger Quebecois aren’t carrying the same historical grievances. For some, the monarchy represents stability in uncertain times rather than colonial history.”
The data reveals a surprising demographic trend as well. Support among Canadians aged 18-34 has jumped nearly 10 points to 31%. Social media may be playing a role, with royal content finding new audiences on platforms like TikTok and Instagram.
Emma Chen, 22, a university student I met at a coffee shop near Parliament Hill, scrolled through her phone to show me several royal family accounts she follows. “I started watching The Crown during the pandemic, then fell into a rabbit hole learning about Canada’s actual relationship with the monarchy. It’s complicated and messy – but also part of what makes our system unique.”
This generational shift hasn’t escaped the notice of monarchist organizations. The Monarchist League of Canada reports a 28% increase in membership inquiries since King Charles’s coronation, with most coming from Canadians under 40.
However, not everyone sees this uptick as meaningful. Dr. David Moscrop, political scientist and author of “Too Dumb for Democracy?“, cautions against overinterpretation. “We’re seeing a sympathy bounce, not a fundamental shift. The core issues remain – an unelected, foreign head of state doesn’t align with modern democratic values, regardless of how personally appealing the royals might be.”
The financial aspect continues to fuel debate. The Canadian Taxpayers Federation estimates the monarchy costs Canadians approximately $59 million annually, though monarchists dispute these figures, arguing they include security and ceremonial costs that would exist regardless of government structure.
Indigenous perspectives add another crucial dimension. While the Crown holds special legal significance in treaty relationships, many Indigenous leaders have called for reimagining these connections.
“The treaties weren’t made with the monarch as a person, but with the Crown as an institution,” explains Niigaan Sinclair, professor of Native Studies at the University of Manitoba. “Many First Nations see value in maintaining these direct relationships while acknowledging the need for them to evolve.”
The increased support comes as several Commonwealth nations reconsider their royal ties. Barbados became a republic in 2021, and Jamaica has signaled similar intentions. Meanwhile, Australia’s republican movement maintains strong support despite recent setbacks.
Canada’s constitutional reality makes any change exceptionally difficult. Removing the monarchy would require unanimous provincial consent – a near-impossible threshold in Canadian federalism.
This explains why, despite the modest rise in support, no major federal party has championed republicanism. Even the NDP, historically most critical of the monarchy, has softened its stance in recent years.
“It’s the definition of a third-rail issue,” one senior Liberal strategist told me on condition of anonymity. “The constitutional negotiations would be a nightmare, and for what? Changing something most Canadians think about maybe twice a year?”
As I left the market that day, I passed a currency exchange booth displaying crisp new $20 bills with King Charles’s profile – a tangible reminder of how the monarchy quietly permeates Canadian life. Whether this royal revival represents a meaningful shift or merely a moment of transition remains to be seen.
What’s clear is that Canada’s relationship with the Crown continues to evolve – not along a straight line toward republicanism as many predicted, but in the messy, complicated fashion that seems to define so many aspects of our national character.
