PARIS: French President Emmanuel MacronThe shoe choice during her trip to London ahead of the Queen’s funeral has sparked a flurry of comments – and misinformation – online.
The 44-year-old leader was pictured on Sunday walking ahead Westminster Hall with his wife Brigitte where the late British ruler lay in state ahead of his funeral on Monday.
Instead of his usual suit and formal black leather shoes, Macron was pictured in an unusually casual outfit, wearing a pair of sunglasses and – to some observers’ shock – navy sneakers.
Spurred by critical comments online, French radio station RMC hosted a debate on Monday on whether the sight of streetwear on the president on such an occasion was “shocking”, with the presenter Estelle Denis insisting that there was “a dress code to follow”.
The newspaper Le Figaro described them as “trainers of discord”.
Other outlets have sought to correct a growing narrative on social media, stoked by far-right politicians and critics of the president, that Macron wore sneakers to the queen’s funeral, which took place on Monday.
“No, Emmanuel and Brigitte Macron did not pay tribute to the Queen in sneakers”, indicates an article from the national channel TF1.
By the time the French leader and his wife paid their respects in front of the coffin on Sunday, both had changed into more formal outfits, with Macron in a black suit and black tie.
The couple wore similar ceremonial clothes for the state funeral at Westminster Abbey, where they arrived on a bus with other leaders.
The photos, however, have drawn attention to Macron’s expensive taste – a potential liability for a man called ‘president of the rich’ by critics and after a summer in which he was pictured using a jet- skiing while on vacation.
The sneakers in question are made by luxury French fashion brand JM Weston, according to Le Figaro, and sell for 570 euros ($570) a pair.
The 44-year-old leader was pictured on Sunday walking ahead Westminster Hall with his wife Brigitte where the late British ruler lay in state ahead of his funeral on Monday.
Instead of his usual suit and formal black leather shoes, Macron was pictured in an unusually casual outfit, wearing a pair of sunglasses and – to some observers’ shock – navy sneakers.
Spurred by critical comments online, French radio station RMC hosted a debate on Monday on whether the sight of streetwear on the president on such an occasion was “shocking”, with the presenter Estelle Denis insisting that there was “a dress code to follow”.
The newspaper Le Figaro described them as “trainers of discord”.
Other outlets have sought to correct a growing narrative on social media, stoked by far-right politicians and critics of the president, that Macron wore sneakers to the queen’s funeral, which took place on Monday.
“No, Emmanuel and Brigitte Macron did not pay tribute to the Queen in sneakers”, indicates an article from the national channel TF1.
By the time the French leader and his wife paid their respects in front of the coffin on Sunday, both had changed into more formal outfits, with Macron in a black suit and black tie.
The couple wore similar ceremonial clothes for the state funeral at Westminster Abbey, where they arrived on a bus with other leaders.
The photos, however, have drawn attention to Macron’s expensive taste – a potential liability for a man called ‘president of the rich’ by critics and after a summer in which he was pictured using a jet- skiing while on vacation.
The sneakers in question are made by luxury French fashion brand JM Weston, according to Le Figaro, and sell for 570 euros ($570) a pair.
