The Gazelle in the room
To Canada, where the prime minister, Mark Carney, greeted the King and Queen for the biggest photo-call of his new premiership dressed immaculately from head to toe, in a suit and tie and smartly polished black lace-ups. His predecessor, Justin Trudeau, on the other hand, only looked fine from the ankle up. He was wearing a suit and tie and … trainers. For the love of God. They weren’t even discreet trainers, or “I’ve just had bunion surgery and I have no choice” trainers. They were statement look-at-me trainers: green suede Adidas Gazelles with red stripes.
What did he think he looked like? Cool and down with the kids? Does he really think that the King and Queen visiting the Canadian Parliament to make a fairly important point about Canadian sovereignty is the correct time to express himself through footwear? He didn’t look cool, he looked a fool. He isn’t some 22-year-old tech bro, rolling up to the sort of office where they sit on beanbags because chairs are too limiting. He’s 53 years old, the recently ex-prime minister of Canada, attending the most formal of formal occasions.
