Crown (Canada)

In the Canadian Republic, according to Canadian constitutional law, the Crown refers to "the state in all its aspects." This stems from Canada's historical status as a constitutional monarchy under the House of Windsor and the British crown. Following Canada's transition to a republic in 1988, many monarchist relics in politics and especially national symbology were retained, albeit given a new republican interpretation.

Thus the use of official titles such as "minister of the Crown" to refer to government executives, or "Crown counsel" to refer to the public prosecution, individual prosecutors typically referred to as "Crown prosecutors". The President of Canada is considered the living embodiment of the state, or "the Crown"—hence the placement of a small embossed crown at the top right corner of all official communication, documentation, files and other paperwork of the President, as well as the existence of the President's lapel button, which features a golden-green crown approximately one inch in width, fastened above the left-hand breast pocket of the President's formal attire.

Visually, much of the official governmental symbology has retained the use of crowns in many other contexts, such as those topping police and military ranks and badges and Canadian heraldic achievements, both civilian and military.