Tuesday, June 9, 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

To boost biotech, fund best bets: Moderna founder

To boost biotech, fund best bets: Moderna founder
Derrick Rossi says Canadian politicians have a track record of trying to be equitable with their funding pledges to hit every region of the country. There is a political calculation behind that, he suggests, but setting the country up for long-run growth — especially in biotech — will require putting money behind the best bets and regions for growth of new firms.    

To boost biotech, fund best bets: Moderna founder

Pope's visit 'deeply meaningful': First Nation

Pope's visit 'deeply meaningful': First Nation
The First Nation also urges the church to "demonstrate acts of contrition" and fulfil promises to disclose residential school documents and raise funds for survivors and their families.

Pope's visit 'deeply meaningful': First Nation

Premier's office fostered toxic workplace: lawsuit

Premier's office fostered toxic workplace: lawsuit
A former senior political staffer in the Alberta government alleges in a lawsuit that the premier’s office fostered a “poisoned work environment” and repeatedly failed to address her complaint of sexual harassment about another employee.

Premier's office fostered toxic workplace: lawsuit

North Korean refugees will be screened: Canada

North Korean refugees will be screened: Canada
The Immigration Department says it will also check that refugees fleeing Kim Jong Un's authoritarian regime do not have a criminal background. Under the new program, Canadian citizens will for the first time be able to privately sponsor North Koreans so they can settle in Canada.

North Korean refugees will be screened: Canada

609 COVID19 cases for Wednesday

609 COVID19 cases for Wednesday
There are currently 4,748 active cases of COVID-19 in the province, and 196,342 people who tested positive have recovered. Of the active cases, 422 individuals are currently in hospital and 157 are in intensive care. 

609 COVID19 cases for Wednesday

B.C. introduces new health service for kids, youth

B.C. introduces new health service for kids, youth
Mitzi Dean, B.C.'s minister of children and family development, says the province's current system is a patchwork of programs where many children and youth must wait for a diagnosis before receiving supports.    

B.C. introduces new health service for kids, youth