King Charles III has officially approved a new design for the Great Seal of Canada, a historic emblem used to authenticate the country’s most significant state documents.The announcement was made Thursday in a press release from the Office of the Governor General, confirming that the approval took place during the King’s royal visit to Canada in late May.“The new design for the Great Seal of Canada is a powerful symbol of our nation’s sovereignty and identity,” said Governor General Mary Simon. “It honours our deep-rooted traditions while embracing the Canada of today — a country that is inclusive, evolving and proud of its heritage.
”The Great Seal is affixed to key constitutional and ceremonial documents, including orders-in-council, commissions for Cabinet ministers, and the appointment of senators and judges, giving them official legal effect.Each new monarch requires a new seal. This version, created for King Charles III, is the sixth Great Seal of Canada since Confederation in 1867, when Queen Victoria approved the original. The seal’s central disc remains constant, while the outer ring changes with the sovereign, reflecting the monarch’s name and title.The design was developed by the Canadian Heraldic Authority, in collaboration with artists and engravers at Rideau Hall, and was produced under the supervision of the Office of the Secretary to the Governor General.
Anne-Marie Brisson, principal engraver at Rideau Hall, oversaw the crafting of the seal. A photograph released by the Governor General’s office shows a detailed and modernized interpretation of the traditional design, which features the monarch enthroned and surrounded by heraldic elements.The updated seal serves not just as a tool of governance, but as a ceremonial artifact representing the continuity of Canada’s constitutional monarchy and the evolving nature of its identity.
King Charles’ approval of the seal is one of several symbolic steps taken during his first official visit to Canada as monarch, reinforcing his role as head of state and highlighting his connection to Canadian institutions.
