Monday, June 8, 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

758 COVID19 cases for Thursday

758 COVID19 cases for Thursday
There are 4,961 active cases of COVID-19 in the province, and 196,858 people who tested positive have recovered. Of the active cases, 434 individuals are in hospital and 155 are in intensive care.

758 COVID19 cases for Thursday

Former Surrey teacher who killed pregnant wife granted unescorted leave to visit family

Former Surrey teacher who killed pregnant wife granted unescorted leave to visit family
In October 2006, Mukhtiar Panghali killed his wife Manjit through strangulation. As the investigation progressed, Manjit's burned body was found at a Delta beach. At the time of the killing Manjit was 31. Panghali was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 15 years.

Former Surrey teacher who killed pregnant wife granted unescorted leave to visit family

VPD arrests West End bike thieves

VPD arrests West End bike thieves
In the early hours of October 25, several suspects broke into an apartment building near Nelson and Bidwell streets, using tools and suction cups to quietly remove the glass to gain entry. They then removed several bikes that were being stored inside the building.

VPD arrests West End bike thieves

Send help for Afghan refugees: ambassador

Send help for Afghan refugees: ambassador
Afghanistan’s ambassador is urging the Canadian government to send officials to bordering countries such as Pakistan to help refugees fleeing the Taliban get to Canada.    

Send help for Afghan refugees: ambassador

New top judges embraces 'belief in pluralism'

New top judges embraces 'belief in pluralism'
Justice Mahmud Jamal says that means faith in the inherent value of the diversity of nationalities, ethnicities, religions, languages, legal systems and perspectives that exemplify what it means to be Canadian.

New top judges embraces 'belief in pluralism'

Two charged - 2020 investigation of edibles in Halloween bags

Two charged - 2020 investigation of edibles in Halloween bags
Police say they had been unable to pinpoint the home where the drugs were handed out at the time of the complaint, but an investigator kept note of the distinctive cartoon logo on the packaging.

Two charged - 2020 investigation of edibles in Halloween bags