27-05-2025
Pictured: Justin Trudeau wears trainers to King's speech
Justin Trudeau wore a pair of green trainers for the King's speech at the state opening of Canada's parliament in Ottawa.
The former Canadian prime minister chaperoned his mother, Margaret, into the Senate chamber for the historic speech, while dressed in a navy suit and a pair of the turquoise and orange Adidas Gazelles.
The King used his speech to impress on Canadians their country is ' strong and free ' following Donald Trump's recent threats to make it America's '51st state'.
Mr Trudeau had a prominent seat during the speech, meaning his footwear may have been visible to the visiting royals.
Critics mocked Mr Trudeau's choice of footwear on social media.
Dimitris Soudas, who was the communications director for former Conservative Party prime minister Stephen Harper, shared a photo of Mr Trudeau's outfit, captioned: 'I don't know what to say.'
Mr Trudeau stepped down as the leader of the Liberal Party in January, as his poll numbers plummeted amid threats from the US president to annex Canada and impose sweeping tariffs on the US' northern neighbour.
His successor, Mark Carney, defeated Pierre Poilievre, his Conservative opposite number, by pledging to challenge Mr Trump over his inflammatory comments.
Mr Carney has previously said that Canada is 'not for sale, ever', and his government hoped that the King's visit – only the second time a monarch has opened parliament – would send a message about sovereignty.
Since taking over as prime minister, Mr Carney has brought with him a renewed rigour to the job, starting press conferences on time in contrast to the tardiness of his predecessor, according to the National Post.
Mr Carney is also said to have exacting sartorial standards, expecting staff to dress in formal business attire, Canadian officials told the outlet.
Mr Carney has also come in for criticism over his choice of footwear in the past. In February, he was lambasted on social media for wearing what appeared to be a pair of Zegna trainers, which retail for $1,450 (£1,078), during an ice hockey photo op.
