Style and title of the Canadian sovereign

"[12][13] The title is also included in the Oath of Allegiance, which forms a part of the Oath of Citizenship, and can be found as Elizabeth II Dei Gratia Regina Canada (Latin for 'Elizabeth II by the Grace of God Queen, Canada') on the obverse of various medals in the Canadian honours system;[14] this wording is expected to change in light of the accession of Charles III.

Its usage has continued since Canada became a realm in its own right in 1867 and,[18] after a process of constitutional evolution ending with full sovereignty from the United Kingdom, is now applied to the Canadian monarch.

[22][23] This wish was not fulfilled, however, and Canada inherited the full British title when the country gained legislative independence from the United Kingdom in 1931.

[33] The discrepancies between independent countries sharing one person as sovereign prompted discussions among the Commonwealth prime ministers before a meeting in London, England, in December 1952; Canada's then-prime minister, Louis St. Laurent, stated that it was important a new composition for the royal title be agreed upon by all realms involved, to "emphasise the fact that the Queen is Queen of Canada, regardless of her sovereignty over other Commonwealth countries."

Although the Queen's Canadian titles included defender of the faith/défenseur de la foi, neither the monarch nor any of the viceroys had an official religious role in Canada.

Prime Minister Louis St. Laurent stated on this matter in his 1953 contribution to the debate on the Royal Style and Titles Act in the House of Commons:[35] "the rather more delicate question arose about the retention of the words defender of the faith [...] In our countries [Canada and the other non-British monarchies of the Commonwealth], there are no established churches.

The new legislation conferred publicly and legally the reality of a unique constitutional monarchy for Canada,[38][39] thereby fulfilling the vision of the Fathers of Confederation.

[42] By spring of 2023, between the accession of King Charles III and his coronation, the federal Cabinet introduced a bill changing the monarch's title by dropping the reference to the United Kingdom and the phrase Defender of the Faith.

[46][47] During treaty negotiations between First Nations and agents of the British Crown in the late 1700s and early 1800s, the term Great Father came to be used to refer to King George III.

(The informal titles, used in conjunction with the phrase Indian children for the aboriginals, were originally neither intended nor taken as an indication of Indigenous inferiority; though, they were later misinterpreted by Canadian government officials as such.

[56] The Cree in Saskatchewan honoured the prince with the title Kīsikāwipīsimwa miyo ōhcikanawāpamik, which translates as 'The Sun Watches Over Him in a Good Way'.

The title was given to Charles in 2001 by Elder, Chief, and Sun Dance leader Gordon Oakes during ceremonies in Wanuskewin Heritage Park, marking the 125th anniversary of the signing of Treaty 6.