Since ancient times, seals have served to authenticate official documents. In monarchies like Canada, the Great Seal embodies the authority of the Crown in making official the actions of the legislature and the executive, such as proclamations, as well as the appointments of individuals exercising important state functions.
The governor general of Canada is entrusted with the Great Seal of Canada during their installation ceremony. The seal is then bestowed on the registrar general of Canada (currently the minister of Industry) for use and safekeeping.
His Majesty King Charles III approved a new design for the Great Seal of Canada during his Royal Visit to Canada on May 26 and 27, 2025.
Symbolism
The new Great Seal of Canada is a hybrid design, containing both permanent and reign-specific elements. It is made of two separate matrices set together: a central disc and a surrounding ring.
The central disc is to be permanent in nature. It is composed of the Canadian Royal Crown within a decorative element alluding to the architecture of the rotunda in Confederation Hall in the Centre Block of Parliament. This feature alludes to parliament as the focal point of Canadian democracy; it also makes a subtle allusion to earlier great seals of Canada which included depictions of architectural arches and columns.
The form of the Royal Crown at the centre is the design specific to the Canadian monarchy and was approved by The King in 2023. The use of the Canadian Royal Crown provides a strong visual element which, in the future, will serve as a central thread in the history of Canada's constitutional monarchy. The Royal Crown is gradually being integrated into other Canadian symbols of sovereignty and official insignia.
The outer ring of the seal is specific to the reigning monarch and will be changed for each monarch. The new seal reads CHARLES III • KING OF CANADA • ROI DU CANADA.
Changing only the outer ring when a new reign begins will make the process of instituting a new seal easier and less costly than creating an entirely new seal.
Document signed by His Majesty King Charles III, officially approving the new design of the Great Seal.