Charles will become Canada's head of state after Queen Elizabeth II without any changes to the country's Constitution, following the tradition of British monarchs since the nation's inception. Despite the widespread respect for Queen Elizabeth II among Canadians, recent polls indicate a decreasing number of Canadians are willing to pledge allegiance to another British monarch, particularly Charles, who is unpopular among many Canadians. The monarchy is seen as increasingly irrelevant to Canadians' lives, but it remains uncertain what actions Canadians may take to prevent Charles from becoming King Charles III. Philippe Lagassé, an associate professor at Carleton University and an expert on the monarchy in Canada, notes that both sides in Canada are currently in a state of truce regarding this issue. The monarchists maintain the formal legal status, royal tours, and symbolism, while the Republicans argue that the monarchy does not play a significant role in Canadian life. Charles and Camilla's visit, following the discovery of children's remains at a former residential school, will have an Indigenous focus, including attending a reconciliation event in Newfoundland, visiting an Indigenous First Nation near Yellowknife, and discussing climate change in Ottawa and the far north. The only question surrounding the visit is whether handshaking, which has traditionally been a major activity during Royal Tours, will be replaced by a safer form of greeting due to COVID. A recent poll by the Angus Reid Institute showed that 55% of Canadians viewed the monarchy as irrelevant, with an additional 24% stating that it was becoming less relevant. Furthermore, 67% of Canadians surveyed opposed the idea of Charles succeeding his mother. Despite being warmly received during his previous visits to Canada with Diana, his first wife, Charles' popularity dwindled after their separation in 1992. The sometimes condescending attitude of Charles does not go over well in a country that values equality. The connection between Charles’ brother Andrew and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, who committed suicide in a New York jail, has further decreased support for the monarchy among Canadians. Their reputation was also affected after Meghan Markle, Charles’ daughter-in-law who resided in Toronto and British Columbia, revealed in an interview that she experienced racially insensitive remarks from members of the royal family. Despite this, Charles and Camilla are expected to attract crowds, especially in St John’s, Newfoundland, where their visit will be the main topic of conversation. The perception of the royals varies based on geography, with little support for the monarchy in predominantly French-speaking Quebec, the second most populous province, in modern times. Canada's shifting demographics have played a role in spreading anti-monarchy sentiments to other places. Immigrants from countries such as China often lack a connection to Britain's monarchy, while those with roots in countries like India may see the crown as a symbol of occupation and repression. According to Shachi Kurl, president of Angus Reid, there may come a time when Canadians question the presence of the monarch on their currency. Despite some support for the monarchy due to respect for the queen, Kurl believes this support will likely decline further after her passing. She stated that the lack of motivation to make a change is largely due to a genuine affection for the queen. Barbados recently removed the queen as its head of state and transitioned to a republic, with Prince Charles and Rihanna present at the ceremony. Other Caribbean nations are considering similar moves. Visits to the Caribbean by Prince Edward and Prince William were met with protests against the monarchy and Britain's history of slavery, leading to the cancellation of some planned stops. Instead of being concerned about potential protests, the organizers of Charles' trip to Canada have focused on ensuring he has an audience. Apart from a wreath-laying ceremony at the National War Memorial in Ottawa, there are limited opportunities for large crowds to assemble in major cities. Instead, he will be visiting Quidi Vidi, a neighborhood and fishing village in St. John's, a city with a population of 114,000 people, where any appearance by an international celebrity is likely to be a significant event. Changing Canada's Constitution to replace the British monarch as head of state is a complex process, requiring unanimous consent from the federal government and all 10 provinces, as explained by Lagassé and Kurl. In a nation where politics are heavily influenced by regionalism, obtaining approval for constitutional changes may be extremely difficult. According to Kurl, most politicians consider any discussion of constitutional amendments to be highly controversial and would rather avoid the topic altogether. Lagassé suggested one potential solution could be to gradually reduce the monarch's role in Canada, a process that has been ongoing since 1947 when the Queen's powers were mostly transferred to the governor-general. Lagassé also mentioned that there are several actions the Canadian government can take to diminish the monarch's presence without needing to pass new legislation or amend the constitution. The queen used to be featured on all of Canada's bank notes, but there is no legal issue with removing her from the last remaining one, the 20 dollar bill, or replacing her image on coins. It is not required by law for the monarch's portrait to be displayed in government offices or for royal tours to be mandated. According to Lagassé, there are many aspects of monarchical symbolism that can be changed, and the general approach in Canada is that the monarchy is still intact. Do not engage with it, but do not give it any additional attention beyond what is necessary. © 2022 The New York Times Company.