Prince George leaves Justin Trudeau hanging with high-five rebuff - Action News
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Politics

Prince George leaves Justin Trudeau hanging with high-five rebuff

Blame it on jet lag or maybe a precocious knowledge that his great-grandmother is Canada's head of state but Britain's three-year-old Prince George just wasn't going to be charmed by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

British media has a field day with little prince's perceived snub

Prince George disses Trudeau on tarmac

8 years ago
Duration 0:21
PM's valiant attempt fails to obtain handshake or high-five

Blame it on jet lag or maybe a precocious knowledge that his great-grandmother is Canada's head of state but Britain's three-year-old Prince George just wasn't going to be charmed by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Landing in Canada on Saturday on aweeklongofficial visit with parents Prince William and KateMiddleton, George, holding his father's hand, ignoredTrudeauwhen he squatted down to the toddler's level to offer a high-five variation, the low-five.

Trudeauthen switched his palm for a high-five and subsequently offered a handshake, both of which were seeminglyrebuffed, creating an awkward moment on the airport tarmac inB.C.

Canadians felt the princely snub acutely, accustomed as they are to seeing their young prime ministerwin over millions of fans around the world and attain social media star status.

Others gave the prime minister kudos for how he handled the moment.

'One doesn't high-five with commoners'

The British media honed in on what one outlet described as an "awkward" encounter betweenTrudeauand the young prince.

Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau talks with Prince George following the arrival of the royal family in Victoria. The little prince got the press talking when he declined a high-five from the prime minister. (Chris Wattie/Reuters)

The Mirror wrote: "Superstar politician Mr. Trudeau might have endeared himself to millions online through his outspoken feminism, support for diversity and willingness to embrace Internet memes, but it seems to take more than that to impress Will and Kate's eldest."

Similar reports were done by The Independent, with a story headlined: "Prince George leaves Justin Trudeau hanging after he goes for a high-five."

The Daily Mail shared a story with the headline: "Sorry, one doesn't high-five with commoners."

The Telegraph also took note of the incident with a story headlined: "Prince George and Princess Charlotte revel in a little mischief on Canadian tour."

Obama gets a handshake

George did shake hands with U.S. PresidentBarack Obama on his visit to England in April, when the prince was allowed to greet the U.S. president dressed in natty pajamas and a robe before he went to bed.

George and his year-old sister, Princess Charlotte, are in Canada for the first time but it is the second trip for their parents, who visited in 2011.

On Sunday, William and Kate were to visit the Immigration Services Society of British Columbia to meet staff and volunteers who help recent migrants to the area.

The couple also is scheduled to meet young leaders of various industries in Canada and some of Vancouver's first responders. Before leaving Canada on Oct. 1, the couple is expected to have more than30 engagements, including with aboriginal Canadian communities.

William is second in line to succeed his grandmother Queen Elizabeth, who has been Canada's head of state since she ascended to Britain's throne in 1952.

With files from Canadian Press and CBC News