Like father, like son — it’s a cringeworthy family tradition..Decades apart, both Trudeaus — the former and current prime minister — have shown Queen Elizabeth II an appalling and most undeserved lack of respect, during her life and after her death..Both Trudeaus disgraced themselves in front of the world and, in doing so, brought shame to the Canada for which the late Queen Elizabeth held a special fondness..Pierre Trudeau expressed his contempt for the monarchy in 1977 at Buckingham Palace when he mockingly pirouetted behind Her Majesty enroute to her dinner table. The contemptible antic earned him widespread rebuke, peppered with extreme disgust lingers decades later..When Queen Elizabeth died September 8, a brilliant light went out in this increasingly troubled world. Millions mourned her passing with the knowledge she’ll never again smile and wave from the balcony..It’s so much deeper than that. She was a rock to cling to — and not just for the Commonwealth — during her 70-year reign through a world war, economic despair and a host of tribulations. With her gone, there’s this unsettling fear that world is leaderless..Prime Minister Justin Trudeau exhibited his comprehension of the magnitude of the solemn loss by whooping it up like a 50-year-old frat brat on the Saturday before her funeral..The video of him — in a T-shirt and appearing to be drunk — ‘paying tribute’ to Queen Elizabeth singing the British rock band Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody went viral and earned deserved global condemnation..Of course, his foolish behaviour was defended — mostly by the pack in his entourage that were whooping it up with him at the posh Corinthia on the taxpayer dime. (Can anyone even begin to explain why actress Sandra Oh was part of the delegation?).No matter how anyone tries to spin it, this is behaviour unbecoming to a world leader who has behaved badly before. Blackface. Insulting Bollywood costumes during his trip to India. It goes on..Yes, Trudeau said some nice things about the queen, whose importance as Head of State to Canada he's diminished before. One of his first acts as prime minster was to remove her portrait in Ottawa’s Global Affairs building and replace it with landscapes by artist Alfred Pellan — a decision described as “outrageous” at the time..Wonder if he sang karaoke then, too?.In England, Trudeau showed an incredible lack of discernment by commenting to the BBC about Canada breaking ties with the British Crown. He said moving away from the constitutional monarchy isn’t something “Canadians are overly taken up with right now” and that he appreciated the “steadiness” of the existing system. An astute leader would have said — out of respect for the Queen’s passing and the grieving millions worldwide — this is not the time to discuss the issue..Meanwhile, Trudeau took questions from the Canadian media delegation to England that they could have asked him at home. He went on about the cost of living, inflation challenges, climate change, Ukraine — and the great job he’s doing to fix what is essentially a mess his government made..He also mentioned his “excellent” meeting with new United Kingdom Prime Minister Liz Truss..One Global reporter slipped in a question about the Queen. To Trudeau’s credit, he did describe her as graceful, generous, inspiring and when one met with her, she had an “ability to focus entirely on you.”.But other foreign news outlets, seeking comment from a Canadian leader, turned to former prime minister Stephen Harper..While Trudeau was possibly trying to figure out damage control from his shoddy performance, Harper appeared on Fox News..As Queen Elizabeth’s coffin made the journey to Windsor, Harper — ever the statesman — stayed focused and he did Canada proud..“You appreciate the longevity and the grandeur of the institutions that the Queen represented, and it is, it's really imposing,” said Harper..“Obviously, as someone who knew the Queen personally, it's a sad moment, but at the same time I think what you're also seeing, certainly outside the service in many ways, at times celebration. It was a beautiful life, well lived, and with much meaning and accomplishment.”.“Canada at a very special place in her heart. She traveled to Canada regularly, both before she was Queen and after. I think she had some 20 royal tours.”.“She understood our country well. She loved our country, our country loved her.”.He recalled the first time he met her and said it was “intimidating.”.Harper described her as “warm,” “engaging” with a “dry but a very fun sense of humour” that was never mean, and a “shrewd judge of character” who provided him and other world leaders “invaluable thoughts and insights.”.“Her life was about service. It was about others. It was never about herself.”.The only comparable send-off Harper could think of was for anti-apartheid activist and former South African president Nelson Mandela, whose funeral he also attended in 2013..“These were two people who transcended their countries and, frankly, they ended up standing in symbolizing for things far greater than even the institutions they represented.”.Queen Elizabeth exuded love and respect for the common people. We knew it and loved and respected her back. She was exquisitely regal and refined throughout the decades she served, putting those she represented before her own family, before herself..She was a serene, strong, brilliant and beautiful woman..Anti-monarchists can say what they want about the constitutional monarchy. But before they criticize Queen Elizabeth, they’d be wise to study history and her personal immeasurable contribution to making this often-miserable world a safer, freer, more secure place..She understood the gravity of being charged with representing her ‘flock.'.She waved with affection..Trudeau senior showed his contempt for protesters in 1982 during a train trip through the Rockies by flipping his finger and dropping the F-bomb at them..Queen Elizabeth kept the vow she made at the age of 21..“I declare before you all that my whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to your service and the service of our great imperial family to which we all belong.”.Trudeau junior — the great divisive one — disdainfully calls many of the Canadians he's paid to serve a “small, fringe minority” and “misogynist” and “racists” and more..And they have the audacity to disrespect Queen Elizabeth..There’s a British word that sums up the Trudeau character well — cad..Like father, like son.
