Security costs for the protection of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle during their Canadian visit cost the RCMP over $50,000, per calculations tallied by the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, according to Global News.
Prince Harry and Markle announced they were moving to Canada following their departure from their duties as senior members of the Royal Family. Their stay, from November 18, 2019 to January 19, 2020 cost $56,384 according to documents obtained by the Canadian Taxpayers Federation through an Access to Information Request. That figure does not include salaries or overtime costs from January 19 onwards.
It had been believed that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were planning to set up house and intended to live permanently in Canada on Vancouver Island. However, it has now been reported that the couple is residing in Los Angeles.
“For months, the Trudeau government refused to even acknowledge Canadian taxpayers were on the hook for Harry and Meghan’s security costs,” said Aaron Wudrick, the federal director of CTF, in a release. “Now we know the answer is yes – to the tune of at least $50,000.”
In January, a petition was launched online requesting that the Trudeau government not have Canadian taxpayers foot the security bill for the Royal visit which garnered over 80,000 signatures.