When US President Donald Trump touched down in Riyadh he was greeted by a Saudi leader who was in every respect a king — except for his official title. Each detail of Tuesday’s arrival and meetings was choreographed by the Saudi side to send one message: Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman,

Prime Minister Mark Carney said Canadians "weren't impressed" when King Charles III gave Donald Trump a historic invitation.

That role has been entirely ceremonial for decades, with the king’s majestic title considered a relic of a bygone era. Nowadays, Canadians are known more for their embrace of multiculturalism and anti-racism than hereditary sovereignty.