Canada 'offers to pick up Harry and Meghan's $650,000 security bill while the couple are in the country'
Canada will reportedly contribute to the security bill for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's protection after they decided to do step down from their royal duties. The Sussexes made a shock announcement on January 8, saying they were withdrawing from their roles as 'senior members' of the royal family and were working to become financially independent.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has reportedly agreed that taxpayers in his country should pay for the royal couple's protection while they are staying in Canada. The couple left for Canada in December to spend their Christmas holidays there.
Trudeau has assured the Queen that the Sussexes will be safe while they are in his country with Canada expected to pay nearly half of the estimated £1million ($1.3 million) annual bill, according to the London Evening Standard. The news comes amid concerns that the huge cost incurred for royal upkeep and taken from taxpayers could lead to a backlash in Canada and could damage the monarchy's status there.
Reports state that Harry and Meghan are entitled to 24/7 taxpayer-funded protection at home and abroad as members of the royal family whether they are on official duties or on a holiday. The outlet reported that Scotland Yard has privately suggested that they will not be able to write an open-ended cheque for round-the-clock security if the couple continue to live abroad. It is believed that they have launched a review into the issue.
The future of the couple's security has reportedly been discussed by the Buckingham Palace, the Cabinet Secretary Sir Mark Sedwill and the Home Office. When Home Secretary Priti Patel was asked who would fund the couple's security, she told BBC: "I'm not going to provide any detailed information on the security arrangements for either them or any members of the Royal Family or for any protected individuals - that's thoroughly inappropriate for me to do so."
"At this moment in time, right now, the royal family themselves need some time and space for them to work through the current issues that they're dealing with," she added.
Many Canadians are already against the suggestion and believe the royal couple should foot the bill themselves. Canadian Taxpayers Federation's Aaron Wudrick said: "I thought it was very interesting when they used the term 'financial independence,'" according to The Sunday Telegraph.