Prince William spoke to Carney and shared his 'long

Prince William spoke to Carney and shared his 'long-standing affection for Canada'

Phone conversation between sitting prime minister and the heir apparent is unusual

Prime Minister Mark Carney spoke by phone to Prince William on Monday, a spokesperson for his office said.

While the Prime Minister's Office shared no details of what was discussed, a Kensington Palace spokesperson said the heir to the throne and Canada's future head of state "discussed the enduring strength of the U.K.-Canada relationship" with Carney.

William also relayed his "long-standing affection for Canada and its people," the palace spokesperson said.

This is the first time the two have spoken since Carney became prime minister, the spokesperson added.

William has long had a connection with Canada.

In 1998, a year after his mother, Princess Diana, died, William and his brother, Prince Harry, came to Canada for a personal ski trip away from the prying eyes of the British tabloid press.

William and Princess Catherine also chose Canada for their first official royal tour outside the United Kingdom following their April 2011 wedding.

Unlike his father King Charles, William has no constitutional role in Canada as the Prince of Wales. A phone conversation between a sitting prime minister and the heir apparent is unusual.

Charles has at times defended Canada in its dispute with the U.S.

Last year, Charles came to Ottawa to deliver the throne speech — the first time a sitting monarch had done that in Canada in decades — and delivered a message about the country's sovereignty at the height of U.S. President Donald Trump's 51st state taunts.

Charles dramatically declared "The True North is indeed strong and free!" in what was an emotional speech for the monarch.

While visiting Washington earlier this year, Charles gently poked at the president, at one point obliquely referencing Trump's penchant for suggesting Canada could become the 51st state.

After calling the country's prime minister "governor," Charles asserted his role as Canada's head of state in remarks at the White House.

King Charles playfully reminds Trump that he's Canada's head of state

Charles also referenced the War of 1812 and the Seven Years' War in a state banquet speech — two foundational conflicts that helped shape Canada.

Like Carney, who has invoked War of 1812 hero Sir Isaac Brock when discussing challenges in the bilateral relationship, Charles told Trump what the British troops protecting Canada did to try to stop the 19th-century American annexation attempt.

Since the trade dispute began, Charles has worn Canadian medals during high-profile military visits in the U.K. He also planted a red maple tree on the grounds of Buckingham Palace and gave his personal Canadian liaison and senior protocol officer in Parliament a new sword.

J.P. Tasker is a journalist in CBC's parliamentary bureau who reports for digital, radio and television. He is also a regular panellist on CBC News Network's Power & Politics. He covers the Conservative Party, Canada-U.S. relations, Crown-Indigenous affairs, health policy and the Senate. You can send story ideas and tips to J.P. at jp.tasker@cbc.ca