Today, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle faced a furious uproar when their £ 20 m protection bill looks like it’s going to fall heavily on British taxpayers after Canada refused to stop paying the taxes.
It was confirmed by the Canadian police last night that they would cease supporting the Duke and Duchess of Sussex with protection when they step down as working royals and then become regular citizens after Megxit on March 31.
Therefore, the cost to the couple and baby Archie of round – the-clock security will transfer entirely to the taxpayer-funded by Metropolitan Police, soon after the couple will leave the UK for North America.
The force which presently guards the couple at home and abroad-today declined to comment on whether after Megxit they will proceed to do so. Buckingham Palace declined to say whether Harry and Meghan should spend any of their own money to protect them.
It was made clear by royal expert Phil Dampier that when the couple will become private citizens with their own income which is expected to be millions of pounds a year, the couple should not receive public money for protection.
He further added that, ‘ It was only a matter of time before the Canadians stopped paying for their protection because they are no longer royal staff and now the burden will naturally fall on British taxpayers’.
It is the first time Canada verified that it has helped guard Harry and Meghan since they settled on Vancouver Island in November last year. But it announced last night that this would cease from April in compliance with their ‘ status change. ‘
Canada has a legal duty to give so-called internationally protected persons protection.
The Sussexes came there as full working royals on a brief tour in November, and the Mounties offered them security as they always have on such trips-with Canadian taxpayers picking up the bill.
And now Harry and Meghan are planning to live in North America in order to achieve profitable business careers and leave on March 31 as senior royal staff.
Another Royal expert said that,we knew that the Canadian public didn’t need to pay for their defense and the polls I’ve seen suggest that the British public is not doing either.
Taxpayers are currently paying £ 600,000 for the royal protection officers ‘ squad of Sussexes, each of whom cost about £ 100,000 for their wages, overtime, travel allowance, benefits, flights and accommodation.
However costs will increase significantly when the couple goes abroad, with an internal memo suggesting that the couple would need at least twelve police officers to cover them on their journeys, which are often split apart.
According to the report, the Met Police estimated the total annual bill would grow to £ 20 m.
Princess Diana has also paid for her own security costs, even though many experts believe that her decision to leave Scotland Yard professionals may have led to her demise in a vehicle chauffeured by a drunk driver.