Canada Might Pay for Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s Security Bills in Taxpayer Money

Starr Bowenbank
Photo credit: WPA Pool - Getty Images
Photo credit: WPA Pool - Getty Images

From Cosmopolitan

  • Queen Elizabeth confirmed that Meghan Markle and Prince Harry will divide their time between Canada and the UK going forward.

  • Now, reports claim that Canada will use tax dollars to fund Meghan and Harry’s security bills.

Update: 3:45 p.m.

While it seemed like Canada would pay for Meghan and Harry’s security bills, it now seems like the government is on the fence about it—at least, according to Bill Morneau, Canada’s finance minister.

“No, we haven’t spent any time thinking about this issue,” he told CBC reporters today. “We obviously are always looking to make sure, as a member of the Commonwealth, we play a role. We have not had any discussions on that subject at this time.”

Looks like we’ll just have to wait and see what happens!

Original story: 3:30 p.m.

The updates just keep on comin’, y’all! It’s been approximately 84 years five wild days since Prince Harry and Meghan Markle shook the world to its core by announcing they’ll be formally stepping back as senior royals, but let’s be real—it feels like an entire lifetime has passed. So many eyebrow-raising reports—like Prince William being “blindsided” by the news, Meghan and Harry allegedly telling no one about their departure, and Piers Morgan’s tasteless rant about the matter, to name a few—have popped up in such a short time, it’s hard to keep track.

But here’s what you need to know RTFN: Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth called a family meeting at her Sandringham estate to discuss the status of Meghan and Harry’s duties now that they’ve decided to step back as senior royals. The queen released a statement earlier today about the meeting and wrote:

“Today my family had very constructive discussions on the future of my grandson and his family.

My family and I are entirely supportive of Harry and Meghan’s desire to create a new life as a young family. Although we would have preferred them to remain full-time working Members of the Royal Family, we respect and understand their wish to live a more independent life as a family while remaining a valued part of my family.

Harry and Meghan have made clear that they do not want to be reliant on public funds in their new lives.

It has therefore been agreed that there will be a period of transition in which the Sussexes will spend time in Canada and the UK.

These are complex matters for my family to resolve, and there is some more work to be done, but I have asked for final decisions to be reached in the coming days.”

This statement makes it pretty clear that Meghan and Harry will be spending more time in Canada soon. But it really does beg the question: How will they be protected when they head overseas? Fear not, you guys—the Canadian government might have it covered!

According to Evening Standard, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has let it slip that Meghan, Harry, and baby Archie’s safety will not be jeopardized while they live there because Canada could pay an estimated £500,000 in taxpayer dollars to help cover their security.

The report expanded on this and said, “The Governor General, who represents the Queen in Canada, is protected by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and as a prince of the realm of Canada, Harry and his family will be protected by the same team of guards, which will have to be expanded.” So basically, Canada’s like, “Don’t worry, we gotchu!”

This makes sense considering that Trudeau extended the warmest of welcomes to Meghan and Harry when they vacationed in Canada during the holidays. “Prince Harry, Meghan, and Archie, we’re all wishing you a quiet and blessed stay in Canada,” he wrote on Twitter. “You’re among friends and always welcome here.”

So it kinda goes without saying, but I can only assume that Meghan and Harry are packing their bags as I speak!

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