Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says monarchy offers Canada 'steadiness'

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said King Charles III offers "steadiness and continuity"

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he doesn't see Canada breaking ties with the British Crown anytime soon.

The complexities of moving away from a constitutional monarchy are not what "Canadians are overly taken up with right now", he told the BBC.

He said he appreciated the "steadiness" of the current system.

Mr Trudeau is also facing controversy after a video captured him singing a song by British rock band Queen in a London hotel over the weekend.

The short video clip, which began circulating on social media late Sunday, shows the prime minister singing Bohemian Rhapsody as Quebec musician Gregory Charles plays the piano.

Mr Trudeau's office confirmed on Monday the authenticity of the video, and said it was captured at the lobby of the Corinthia London Hotel on Saturday evening as part of a small gathering with members of the Canadian delegation.

Musician Mr Charles told the Toronto Star he played "a few UK tunes as a spontaneous homage".

The prime minister and his wife, Sophie Gregoire-Trudeau, have been in London since 16 September to attend Queen Elizabeth II's funeral.

The couple travelled alongside a delegation that includes Governor General Mary Simon, former prime ministers, indigenous leaders, and recipients of the Order of Canada - the second-highest civilian honour in the country - including Canadian actress Sandra Oh and Mr Charles.

Mr Trudeau's remarks and support for the monarchy come as some debate its future in Canada in light of the Queen's death.

"There's a nice balance to the system we have that I think is going to continue to serve Canadians extraordinarily well," Mr Trudeau told the BBC's Today programme.

In Canada, the monarch - now King Charles - is the head of state. The monarchy serves a mainly symbolic role, with the power to govern entrusted to the Canadian government.

Changing the current system would need approval from both the House of Commons and the Senate in parliament, as well as the unanimous consent of all 10 provinces.

• Why was actress Sandra Oh at the Queen's funeral?

Mr Trudeau also reflected on his first time meeting the Queen as a child, when his father, Pierre Elliott Trudeau, was prime minister.

"I was seven years old and I had to rush back from school to meet her," he told the BBC, recalling how he was he had to keep his shoes scrubbed for the event.

"Of course I got them all muddy, so I remember just before running home having to go into the school washroom with a buddy of mine, cleaning off my shoes so I could have clean shoes for meeting the Queen," he said.

It was an important moment, he added, even in a prime ministerial household that saw many world leaders walk through its doors.

"I just remember looking up at her back then and and having her being just lovely and thoughtful and gracious with me even even at that point," Mr Trudeau said.