Harper and Trudeau share laughs, and other lighter throne speech moments

CBC

27-05-2025

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If you tuned in for the time between King Charles and Queen Camilla's arrival at the Senate and the moment the King actually began the speech from the throne, you probably noticed a lot of things happened.
Some of them were a little unceremonious for such pomp and circumstance that the second day of the royal visit held.
Former prime minister Kim Campbell, who was there, may have put it best.
"What was interesting was the interesting combination of informality and formality," she told CBC News.
In case you missed them — or if you want to know a little more about what unfolded in the Senate chamber before the speech — here are the moments that caught our attention.
Who's-who of Canadian politics
The event was a rare gathering of some of the most important figures in Canadian politics. Former prime ministers or their widows were in attendance, including Mila Mulroney and Margaret Trudeau, as well as former governors general.
There were also a few notable absences, such as former prime minister Jean Chrétien, as well as former governor general Julie Payette, who resigned in 2021 following a report holding her responsible for a toxic work environment.
In Chrétien's case, the nonagenarian underwent surgery and is expected to be discharged from the hospital Wednesday.
Former political rivals laugh together
We saw two former rivals set aside their differences and sit beside each other: Justin Trudeau and his predecessor Stephen Harper.
The former prime ministers were each in power for roughly a decade and have been regarded as representing polar opposites of the political spectrum. And yet today they were seen in a friendly conversation, exchanging jokes and laughs.
To be a fly on that wall.
The other former prime minister present was Campbell, the only woman in Canada to have held the role.
"It was a madhouse! They were all running around talking to each other. We're a law-abiding but unruly group of people," Campbell said.
At one point, former governor general Michaëlle Jean could be seen leading Charles by the hand across the Senate floor to introduce him to Assembly of First Nations Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak.
"There was a kind of deeper sense of delight in the connectedness of people being there and the historic importance of the occasion," Campbell said.
Other dignitaries included Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre, President of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami Natan Obed, Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew, former governor general Adrienne Clarkson and Chris Phillips, former defenceman for the Ottawa Senators.
Much ado about a shoe
On social media, a fashion moment took the cake and polarized people at their keyboards.
Justin Trudeau's footwear was unorthodox for such a formal (and, well, royal) setting that included people wearing elaborate robes, hats and in the case of Usher Greg Peters — a fancy black rod.
Trudeau chose a pair of suede green-and-orange Adidas Gazelle sneakers. Wearing kicks to the third-ever occasion of the monarch reading the speech from the throne prompted a lot of online side-eye, but in a way symbolized the informality at a time of formality that Campbell described.
2 kisses — because it's French!
Speaking of Trudeaus and informality: While there may have been some light pushing and shoving to get a chance to shake hands with the King and Queen, most did just that — shake hands with the royals.
But Margaret Trudeau, who's known for her own quirky moments in the otherwise conventional landscape of Canadian politics, gave the King two kisses, one on each cheek.
It was a warm embrace from a former prime minister's wife and the mother of another — who would have met the King when he was young and still the Prince of Wales.
And it was also perhaps a nod to Quebec, where the two-kiss greeting is the norm, as well as a bit of a distaste for the monarchy (which Margaret Trudeau probably does not share).
Charles and Queen Camilla appeared to revel in all of it. The King is known for enjoying meeting people and asking questions with what some say seems to be genuine curiosity.
Another exchange stood out, between Charles and current Prime Minister Mark Carney that lasted several minutes. While the two had had an official private audience together the day before, Carney stepped over to the King as he sat in the throne, waiting for things to proceed.
The two spoke at length and have a bit of shared history. Carney is the former governor of the Bank of England and in a famous public appearance during his mandate, held a news conference reassuring the British population as markets tanked following Brexit. Another connection: Carney's brother Sean is the chief operating officer at Kensington Palace.
Though the King and Queen's visit was brief, at barely 24 hours in the capital, shaking hands and meeting people is what they spent most of their time doing — from Lansdowne Park to the Rideau Hall lawn and the Ottawa airport tarmac, where their departure was slightly delayed by Charles speaking with several guards, ministers and others gathered to send the royals off.
They left space, it seems, for some humanity amid the formality.
And now, a new government gets to work.