Trudeau’s neon sneakers steal the highlight throughout King Charles’s Canadian go to

[ad_1] If diplomacy is theater, Justin Trudeau walked onstage in costume to greet royalty.

The previous Canadian prime minister made a head-turning entrance at Tuesday’s regal proceedings in Ottawa, attending King Charles III’s historic Speech from the Throne, not within the anticipated leather-based brogues or polished Oxfords however fairly in a pair of turquoise and orange Adidas Gazelles.

A sartorial alternative that may fly in additional informal settings, maybe much less so within the Senate chamber, particularly when royalty are within the room.

KING CHARLES III VISITS CANADA AS SHOW OF SUPPORT FOR COUNTRY COVETED BY TRUMP

This view reveals former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's Adidas sneakers as he arrives forward of an look by King Charles III on Could 27, 2025. (Chris Jackson - Pool/Getty Photos)

Whereas Trudeau made headlines for his alternative of footwear, King Charles III and Queen Camilla were in Canada for a big two-day go to, his first since changing into monarch in 2022.

The king, 76, is at the moment present process most cancers therapy and has saved a restricted schedule, however the resolution to journey to Ottawa was extensively seen as a symbolic gesture of assist for Canada throughout a time of pressure.

The go to follows repeated comments by President Donald Trump suggesting that Canada might grow to be the 51st state of america, remarks that have been publicly rejected by Canadian leaders.

Prime Minister Mark Carney invited the king to open Canada’s forty fifth session of Parliament, making him the primary monarch to take action since Queen Elizabeth II in 1977. Carney has beforehand said that Canada "is just not on the market now, not on the market ever," a message echoed by Canada’s envoy to the U.Ok., Ralph Goodale, who mentioned the king’s go to "reinforces the facility and the power of that message."

CARNEY SAYS CANADA IS NOT FOR SALE, TRUMP REPLIES, 'NEVER SAY NEVER'

King Charles III and Queen Camilla wave goodbye on the finish of an official go to to Canada on Could 27, 2025 in Ottawa, Ontario. (Ian Vogler - Pool/Getty Photos)

Throughout his deal with within the Senate chamber, King Charles emphasised Canada’s independence and resilience. "The true north is certainly robust and free," he mentioned.

Charles, who additionally held non-public conferences with Carney and Governor Common Mary Simon, serves as Canada’s head of state, as he does for 14 different commonwealth realms. The go to comes at a time when U.Ok. Prime Minister Keir Starmer is pursuing nearer ties with the Trump administration on commerce and worldwide points, together with Ukraine.

Whereas the ceremonial elements of the go to drew consideration, the occasion strengthened Canada’s present place on the world stage and the position of the monarchy in reinforcing that standing.

This view reveals former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's Adidas sneakers as he arrives forward of an look by King Charles III on Could 27, 2025. (Chris Jackson - Pool/Getty Photos)

Style-wise, Trudeau’s sneakers have been not less than en vogue, actually. British Vogue recently dubbed the Adidas Gazelle a perennial vogue staple, noting its '70s-inspired silhouette and quiet-cool profile.

In an April 2024 article titled "Why Our Obsession With Adidas Gazelles Reveals No Signal of Fading," Pleasure Montgomery referred to as the shoe a "vogue coach" with timeless enchantment, however that doesn’t essentially translate to royal protocol.

One onlooker quipped, "Justin Trudeau’s sneakers, at the moment, at Parliament! Additionally in Parliament at the moment – King Charles," tweeted @margareta_matis.

Emily Ferguson chimed in with a glancing blow: "Retirement runners maybe..?"

As if the message was unclear, Dimitris Soudas, former communications chief to Stephen Harper, delivered his verdict with silence: "I don’t know what to say."

In a room full of governors normal, premiers, Indigenous leaders, and navy honors, Trudeau's Adidas suede additionally made its presence identified.

King Charles opened the speech with a land acknowledgment and moved swiftly to emphasise Canada’s "distinctive id" and "enduring sovereignty," refined echoes of Prime Minister Carney’s current message to Trump .

Charles’s deal with, written principally by the Canadian authorities however peppered along with his personal prospers, pointed to formidable financial targets.

"Each time I come to Canada … a bit extra of Canada seeps into my bloodstream, and from there straight to my coronary heart," he mentioned.

In the meantime, Trudeau discovered himself seated subsequent to Harper, his outdated political rival, and the 2 have been seen in animated dialog, palms flying. It's unknown what they have been discussing.