A Reddit post from Sept. 18, 2024, claimed all Canadian citizens have the right to receive a free portrait of King Charles III. A similar story surfaced on Reddit in 2011, 2012 and 2018, when Queen Elizabeth II was the ruling monarch.
(beefstewforyou/reddit)
The claim is true; however, there are some caveats. Anyone residing in Canada — not just citizens — can request the portrait, though shipping is limited to Canadian addresses, including Canadian Forces' locations.
The nonprofit Monarchist League of Canada distributes the physical portrait free of charge, but there is a $25 shipping fee. Canadians can also download a digital version of the portrait at no cost through the Government of Canada website.
The Monarchist League of Canada noted the portrait's 30-day delivery timeframe.
Similar portraits of Queen Camilla and Queen Elizabeth II (even after her passing in September 2022) are also handled via the website. Per the Monarchist League:
The first official Canadian portrait of King Charles III, as King of Canada, is now available. The Monarchist League of Canada, through an agreement with the Government of Canada, is responsible for the distribution of the 14"x17" print version of His Majesty's portrait to Canadians. This portrait is available free of charge, however there is a flat fee to cover shipping and handling expenses across the country. Please note that the portrait is available for delivery to Canadian and Canadian Forces' addresses only, and that printing and delivery time is an estimated 30 days.
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Portrait available for delivery to Canadian and Canadian Forces' addresses only.
The Monarchist League's website noted it will "ship items outside of Canada only to members of the League," with individual memberships starting at $45, or $17 for full-time students younger than 24.
The official portrait of King Charles III replaces Queen Elizabeth II's portrait in government offices and public spaces in Canada. While the information on the website was slightly outdated as of this writing, given the official portrait of King Charles is now available, the Monarchist League does offer additional instructions about obtaining these portraits:
How can I obtain The King's Official Canadian Portrait?
An official photographic portrait of The King of Canada is expected to become available in the next 3-5 months. Until that time, the League will continue to offer the official portrait of our Late Queen, whose cherished memory is still perfectly proper to display, just as many people do of their own departed family members. The League hopes to continue being responsible for the distribution of The King's lithographic portrait; and we expect Canadian Heritage Department of Canadian Heritage's website will again offer downloads of that image. We expect that a portrait of Queen Camilla will also be available. Keep an eye out for both public announcements and changes to our online the League Store offerings.
Canada is part of the British Commonwealth of Nations, often referred to simply as the Commonwealth — a political association of 56 member countries, most of which were once part of the British Empire. The organization encourages cooperation, trade and shared values, like human rights, among its member countries, which also include Australia, New Zealand, India and Sri Lanka. While the British monarchy is a symbolic figurehead for many Commonwealth nations, each country operates independently with its own government and laws.
Snopes has previously reported on quirky claims regarding Canada, including the rumor the country was preparing for a second U.S. civil war, and the false claim that the world's shortest international bridge connected a homeowner's property that spanned both Canada and the U.S.