Friday, May 15, 2026
ADVT 
National

PM stayed in $6k London suite for royal funeral

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 23 Mar, 2023 05:07 PM
  • PM stayed in $6k London suite for royal funeral

OTTAWA - The Prime Minister's Office says Justin Trudeau and his wife, Sophie Grégoire Trudeau, stayed in a $6,000 per night hotel suite while attending the funeral for Queen Elizabeth II.

The stay at the Corinthia London hotel became the subject of public debate last fall when media honed in on the details of the $400,000 trip, after obtaining documents through access-to-information requests.

But Trudeau's office and Global Affairs Canada did not respond to questions last month about who stayed in the expensive river suite, which features a butler service.

Opposition MPs on the government operations committee asked for a copy of all receipts and invoices associated with the trip last month.

The room was booked on Sept. 9, one day after the Queen's death, for Sept. 15 to 20.

In a statement, the Prime Minister's Office says hotel prices surged significantly ahead of the funeral, and many London hotels were sold out as 500 heads of state and their delegations descended on the city.

The hotel's website currently lists the suite at 5,154 British pounds per night, higher than the 4,800 pounds the government was charged in September.

A night in the river suite next month would come out to more than $8,000 at the current exchange rate.

The Prime Minister's Office did not immediately respond to questions about the higher prices and why the government chose this particular hotel.

Documents released through access-to-information requests note that the booking was for a three-bed suite. The hotel's website says it has one king-sized bed but there are "connecting rooms available on request."

In November, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre peppered Trudeau with questions in the House of Commons about who stayed in the suite, but he didn't answer.

"The death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was a significant event for Canadians. Canada was represented by former prime ministers and governors general to pay their respects to the monarch who oversaw almost half of Canada’s time as an independent country," said a press secretary for Trudeau in a written statement Thursday.

MORE National ARTICLES

New drug price rules may mean big savings: PBO

New drug price rules may mean big savings: PBO
The changes are expected to come into effect on July 1, after being pushed back four times during the pandemic. The PBO says in a newly released report that if the changes had been in place in 2018, Canada would have spent 19 per cent less, representing about $2.8 billion.

New drug price rules may mean big savings: PBO

Two dead, one of them shot by B.C. police: RCMP

Two dead, one of them shot by B.C. police: RCMP
Police say in a statement they were called Monday to a report of a homicide at a local marina with hostages being involved. When officers arrived, they learned the male suspect was alone and attempts were made to negotiate with the man, who police say had a weapon.

Two dead, one of them shot by B.C. police: RCMP

Crown probing ex-MP Grewal's India trip guest list

Crown probing ex-MP Grewal's India trip guest list
Grewal, 36, is facing two charges of breach of trust, related to loans he sought from friends, family and other associates to help pay for a gambling habit that racked up millions of dollars in debt.

Crown probing ex-MP Grewal's India trip guest list

You can now check your passport wait time online

You can now check your passport wait time online
The federal government says 72 per cent of Canadians who apply for a passport in any manner will get it within 40 business days, while 96 per cent of people who submit their application in person will get their passport within 10 business days.

You can now check your passport wait time online

Probe into police actions at 8 B.C. agencies

Probe into police actions at 8 B.C. agencies
Officers from departments in Victoria, Vancouver, New Westminster, Delta, Surrey, Saanich, Victoria and the Metro Vancouver Transit Police are being investigated, the statement said.

Probe into police actions at 8 B.C. agencies

Hard rain in southeastern B.C. could mean flooding

Hard rain in southeastern B.C. could mean flooding
Flood warnings, watches or high streamflow advisories cover much of southern B.C. and Environment Canada said Fernie would be the centre of a rainstorm bringing 50 to 80 millimetres before it tapered to showers Tuesday.    

Hard rain in southeastern B.C. could mean flooding