The Mayor of Sussex in New Brunswick, Canada, has urged Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to consider moving to his town.
The couple made their bombshell announcement that they plan to step back from royal duties and split their time between the UK and North America last week.
They spent Christmas and the New Year in Vancouver and Meghan has close links to Toronto, having lived there for six years while filming Suits.
But in an amusing segment on CBC Comedy’s 22 Minutes, the Mayor of Sussex, New Brunswick, Marc Thorne, told host Trent McClellan that his town would be a ‘great fit’, given the royal couple’s titles.
Marc Thorne, the Mayor of Sussex in New Brunswick, Canada, has urged Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to consider moving to his town
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle made their bombshell announcement that they plan to step back from royal duties and split their time between the UK and North America last week
He added that the Queen and Prince Philip have previously visited the town – known for its elaborate murals – in 2002 and ‘had a great time’.
‘It’s a great fit, they’re already the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, we happen to be Sussex, they’re gonna spend half their year in Canada, why not so it right here?’ he said.
Speaking about the monarch’s visit, he joked: ‘I think for the half hour she was here, I think she had a great time.’
Sussex is located in south central New Brunswick on the east coast of Canada, between the province’s three largest cities, Saint John, Moncton, and Fredericton.
It straddles the Kennebecasis River and is a major dairy product producer in the province.
Sussex is located in south central New Brunswick on the east coast of Canada, between the province’s three largest cities, Saint John, Moncton, and Fredericton
The town in the county straddles the Kennebecasis River and is a major dairy product producer in the province
In the segment, local dairy farmer Paul Walker tells Trent the community would welcome Meghan and Harry with open arms – and he’d even be prepared to make a generous gesture in their honour.
‘I think (Sussex) would be a great place for Harry and Meghan to set up home,’ he said.
‘We’d call a cow after Meghan and if we had a bull, we’d name him Harry.’
In the segment, local dairy farmer Paul Walker tells Trent the community would welcome Meghan and Harry with open arms – and he’d even be prepared to make a generous gesture in their honour
The Queen and Prince Philip visited Sussex, New Brunswick in 2002 and had a ‘great time’ according to the mayor
Asked if the royal couple would have to worry about paparazzi photographers in Sussex, Mayor Thorne said the town’s situation between three large cities could make this an issue – though Trent joked the three areas surmounted to a ‘Bermuda Triangle of boredom’.
Mayor Thorne said the town is very proud of its murals and pointed out that there is space to add Harry, 35, and Meghan, 38, to an existing wall already featuring members of the British Royal Family who have previously visited.
Visiting a local diner, Trent spoke with some Sussex residents who were keen to stress how friendly the town and its people are.
One branded it ‘the best place in the world to live’ while another praised its Sussex cheese, ice cream and butter.
Mayor Thorne said the town is very proud of its murals and pointed out that there is space to add Harry, 35, and Meghan, 38, to an existing wall already featuring members of the British Royal Family who have previously visited (pictured)
Yesterday Meghan broke cover for the first time, leaving the palatial $14million Canadian home where she has been holed up since last week to visit a women’s shelter in Canada’s poorest neighborhood.
The Duchess of Sussex left the Vancouver Island ocean-side mansion shortly before 10am local time and arrived at Victoria Harbour Airport around 20 minutes later, where she appeared happy and relaxed as she laughed with her security team before boarding a seaplane for the mainland.
She then made a surprise visit to the Downtown Eastside Women’s Center in Vancouver to ‘offer support’ and to ‘boost the staff’s spirits’.
Back in Britain, where the royal family is in turmoil over Harry and Meghan’s decision to quit as senior royals and emigrate to Canada, the Sussex team continues to negotiate an abdication deal on money, titles and establishing their international commercial brand.
Meghan and Harry, pictured with baby Archie, spent Christmas and the New Year in Vancouver. Meghan also has close links to Toronto, having lived there for six years while filming Suits
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has agreed taxpayers in his country should pay for Prince Harry, Meghan and their son Archie’s protection while they are there.
Mr Trudeau has assured the Queen that the family will be safe while in his country, with Canada expected to pay around half of the estimated £1million annual bill.
But there are concerns that the large cost could lead to a backlash in Canada and damage the status of the monarchy there, reported the London Evening Standard.
In a post on their website, the Sussexes announced they would be transitioning to ‘financial independence’ after ending funding from the Sovereign Grant, but did not go into specifics as to whether this extends to the cost of their security which is paid for by the State.
Meghan made a surprise visit to the Downtown Eastside Women’s Center in Vancouver to ‘offer support’ and to ‘boost the staff’s spirits’
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has agreed taxpayers in his country should pay for Prince Harry, Meghan and their son Archie’s protection while they are there
However, a recent poll conducted two days before the couple’s shock announcement found that more than 60 per cent of Canadians would support the appointment of the Duke of Sussex as the Governor General of Canada.
The mostly ceremonial role, which is to act as the Queen’s representative in Canada, provides both a residence – Government House in Ottowa – and a security detail.
Some 61 per cent of the Canadians polled said they would support having Harry replace current governor general Julie Payette when her term expires in two years.
The poll came despite Harry never having expressed any interest in the post, which has been held by Canadians since the 1950s but was previously held by Britons.