The Duke and Duchess of Sussex could face a huge backlash from Canadian taxpayers if they are forced to pay for the couple’s security if they decide to move there, even part time.
Campaigners say the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), who are charged with protecting senior officials including the Governor General, must not write a ‘blank cheque’ on potentially millions of pounds worth of protection, while others suggest Harry and Meghan foot the bill themselves.
Crisis talks are expected to be taking place in the royal family on how to proceed following the couple’s shock decision to step back from being ‘senior members’ and start a home in Canada.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex could face a huge backlash from Canadian taxpayers if they are forced to pay for the couple’s security if they decide to move there (Harry and Meghan are saluted by two officers of the Canadian Royal Mounted Police in London, March 2019)
Crisis talks are expected to be taking place in the royal family on how to proceed following the couple’s shock decision to step back from being ‘senior members’ and start a home in Canada
‘I thought it was very interesting when they used the term “financial independence”,’ Aaron Wudrick, the director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, told The Sunday Telegraph.
‘The details remain to be seen. There’s always going to be a cost [to the taxpayer] and the public deserves some prudence.
‘I don’t think it’s reasonable to expect us to pay for everything the way we do for a royal visit. If they’re going to make Canada a second home, a good step in the right direction would be to pay for at least part of it, and not rely on taxpayers to fund their entire lifestyle.’
Larry Busch, an ex-Royal Canadian Mounted Police officer, said he doesn’t think the royal couple would be able to refuse Canadian security, even if they wanted to (pictured, the Queen inspects Mounties during a visit to Canada in 2010)
However, experts say that Mounties would be obliged to do give protection for Harry, Meghan and their eight-month-old son Archie, even if the couple still had British royal protection officers.
‘I don’t believe they can refuse the government of Canada’s security,’ said Larry Busch, an ex-Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) officer who directed security for world leaders including U.S. presidents and the royal family.
The cost could easily run into the millions of dollars, said Mike Zimet, whose eponymous New York executive security firm has protected clients including U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders and actors Lin-Manuel Miranda and Alec Baldwin.
‘If they want private protection, then a whole machine needs to be built around them,’ said Mr Zimet.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle spent their first Christmas with baby Archie at this £10million waterfront mansion on Vancouver Island, and there is speculation they could make Canada their permanent home overseas
The level of security they need would be defined by a threat assessment, said Joe Balz, president of GloProSec Preventative Services, a Toronto-based security company, and an ex-RCMP officer who has worked with the royal family and other heads of state in the past.
‘There’s always going to be the odd idiot who causes some type of problem,’ Mr Balz said.
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.
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.
Sixty-one percent of the Canadians polled said they would support having Harry replace current governor general Julie Payette when her term expires in two years.
The favorable 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.
The National Post poll of 1,515 Canadians was conducted on Monday by Dart and Maru/Blue Voice Canada and has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.9 percentage points.
