Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s office confirmed the leader was attending a piano concert at a London hotel two days before the Queen’s funeral.
A video clip making the rounds on social media was reportedly shot at the Corinthia Hotel, near Westminster Abbey, where the Canadian delegation was staying ahead of Her Majesty’s funeral on Monday.
M Trudeau can be seen in a T-shirt, leaning on a piano as Gregory Charles, a musician from Montreal, Quebec and recipient of the Order of Canada, plays Bohemian Rhapsody.
The PM sings with him: “Easy come, easy go, little high, little low.
“Anyway the wind is blowing, I don’t care…”
Mr. Charles is described on his website as “a multi-faceted entertainer and piano prodigy who never misses an opportunity to share his love of music”.
He told the Canadian newspaper The Globe and Mail that about official events related to the Queen‘s lying in pageantry and funerals, their delegation had also “found moments of joy and celebration”.
He described the procedure as that of a Caribbean funeral, ‘mixing dark moments of reverence with those celebrating life and sharing stories’ and said late Saturday night that he sat behind the piano in the lobby of their hotel and “entertained people … including the Prime Minister and hotel guests”.
“Everyone sang with me for two hours,” he said. “It was the feeling, it was a lot of fun.”
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“Spontaneous Tribute”
The Toronto Star reported it as saying of the moment: “I haven’t seen any video, but I was able, along with a small group of Canadians, to spend a few splendid minutes with the PM late on Saturday.
“And there was a piano in the hall and I played some British tunes as a spontaneous tribute.”
Earlier on Saturday, Mr Trudeau offered the new King Charles his condolences for the loss of his mother
A spokesperson for the Prime Minister’s Office confirmed to Sky News that “after dinner on Saturday” Mr Trudeau joined “a small gathering with members of the Canadian delegation…to pay tribute to life and in the service of Her Majesty”.
“Gregory Charles, a renowned Quebec musician and recipient of the Order of Canada, played the piano in the lobby of the hotel, which led some members of the delegation, including the Prime Minister, to join.
“Over the past 10 days, the Prime Minister has taken part in various activities to pay tribute to the Queen.”
Unpleasant… or happy?
Some Twitter users found the moment unpleasant, others joyful.
One said: “Bravo @JustinTrudeau. So proud that you are a human full of joy and camaraderie.”
Another said: “Disgustingly inappropriate.”
