UK taxpayers call Harry 'arrogant money grabber', want him and Meghan to pay their own security bills
After it was reported that Canada had declined to pay for Harry and Meghan Markle's security after Megxit is officially imposed on March 31, it became obvious that the British taxpayers would have to shoulder the burden of their multi-million-dollar security bill. Needless to say, people of the United Kingdom did not take kindly to it.
UK Independence Party (UKIP) founder Alan Sked tweeted: "So Canada will no longer pay the security bill for Harry and Meghan. We should certainly pay to protect them while in the UK or while representing the Queen abroad. But if they want to be independent celebrities in North America, shouldn't they pay for their own security there?"
Other Twitter users chimed in, voicing their outrage on social media.
"Of course they should pay. Since marrying Meghan H has become an arrogant money grabber. I used to respect his hard work and genuine care for our 'heroes'. Now he's disrespecting the British Public to feather Meghan's nest. Go Harry, pay security!" one of them said, while another tweeted: "Surely if Harry and Meghan want to be 'Financially independent' and live in Canada, then it’s their responsibility to pay for their security, not the U.K. taxpayer???"
Yet a third added: "Of course Canada should not pay for Harry and Megan’s security. If they want security it should come out of their own pockets."
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) has been protecting the pair and their baby boy Archie ever since they moved to Canada in November 2019. However, this arrangement will be coming to end in the coming weeks, the Canadian government revealed on Thursday, February 27.
Going forward, the pair could choose to pay for the security themselves or be forced to use money from the Duchy of Cornwall which is a fund that was started by Harry's father, Prince Charles.
Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams told Daily Mail that the issue of footing their security bill was always going to be an issue after Harry and Meghan quit the royal family last month. And after March 31, Canada was not legally obligated to pay for their additional safety.
"We knew from polls that the Canadian public did not want to pay for their security and the polls I’ve seen indicate that the British public does not either. They cease to be 'Internationally Protected Persons' on March 31 when Megxit occurs.
"Harry remains sixth in line to the throne. He is also an Afghanistan veteran. It is obvious that the British taxpayer will pick up this tab as he, Meghan and Archie are such high profile members of the royal family," he said.
Royal expert Phil Dampier predicted the outrage that has presently gripped the British taxpayers, adding that he personally thought that the Sussexes should not receive public money when they become private citizens as they would have their own income which is set to be millions of pounds a year.
"It was only a matter of time before the Canadians stopped paying for their security because they're no longer working royals and now obviously the burden will fall on British taxpayers. The public will be angry at having to pay for this when they're not spending time in the UK or contributing to the royal family. The costs will become unsustainable — they will soon have to start paying for themselves," he said.
The Taxpayers' Alliance issued a stern statement, saying, "The Duke and Duchess of Sussex can't have it both ways: either they're working royals with the obligations which that entails, or they're private citizens seeking independence."