Prince Harry, Meghan Markle stuck in Canada as coronavirus forces country to seal off borders
Prince Harry could now be stuck in North America and unable to return to Britain after the borders were set to close in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.
It is believed that the Duke of Sussex arrived in Vancouver just in time as he could have been forced to postpone his abdication for months. Harry and Meghan had returned to Vancouver Island just last week after completing their final duties as senior members of the royal family.
Harry may now be left unable to travel back to the UK for the near future, Mirror reports. Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, announced on Monday, March 16, that non-citizens and non-residents would not be allowed into the country in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.
A spokeswoman for Harry and Meghan did not confirm whether Harry was in Vancouver or not, however last week, he was spotted on a plane to Vancouver Island. Trudeau urged people to maintain limited social contact with several other countries taking up a similar stance.
"It is a significant step that we take in exceptional circumstances. It is time to take every precaution to keep people safe," Trudeau shared with reporters. "Staying home is an important step to protect the community and each other. We all have to do it," he added.
On Monday, March 16, the death toll in Canada rose to four while the number of infected people jumped to 407 from 341, medical officials have revealed. The PM also shared that trade will not be affected by the border closing. "Canadian travelers will be able to get financial assistance to help them with the costs of returning home or temporarily covering their basic needs while they wait to come back to Canada," he shared.
Harry and Meghan's last official royal engagement saw them at the Commonwealth Day Service at Westminster Abbey. However, some tension was evident between Harry and Meghan and the rest of the royal family given they were not permitted to sit with the Queen, Charles, William, and Kate in the VIP section.