Canada to Cancel Security for Harry, Meghan

Most of the country doesn't want to pay the tab, polls show
By Bob Cronin,  Newser Staff
Posted Feb 27, 2020 4:04 PM CST
Canada to Cancel Security for Harry, Meghan
Britain's Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will have to find another source of security funding.   (Daniel Leal-Olivas/Pool Photo via AP)

It hadn't been clear whether Canada would continue to provide security for Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan, when they're no longer senior royals. It's clear now. Canada has been providing security help since the couple moved there in November, the government told CBC, adding, "The assistance will cease in the coming weeks, in keeping with their change in status." March 31 is when the couple will stop carrying out royal duties. In a statement on the split from the royal family on Harry and Meghan's website, Harry and Meghan had said the two sides agreed that the couple would "continue to require effective security to protect them and their son."

The statement by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government said that when the couple moved to Canada, the government faced "a unique and unprecedented set of circumstances" and had an obligation to provide protection. But the security assistance has not been popular. Polls have found that only about 20% of Canadians believe tax money should be used for the couple's security, per the Guardian. A taxpayers group gathered 80,000 signatures opposing it. Harry and Megan, who are staying on Vancouver Island, have said they intend to live part-time in Canada. Security experts have estimated the security bill for guarding the couple now that they're ex-royals could run as high as $30 million a year. (It's just "Harry" now, prince says.)

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