PRINCELY SUM
Harry and Meghan poll reveals 73% of Canadians don’t want to cover their multi-million security costs
A MAJORITY of Canadians don't want to foot the security bill for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, a new poll has revealed.
About 73 per cent of Canadians said they don't believe they should be responsible to cover the Sussexes' security and other expenses after they announced they want to live in the country part time.
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The royal couple blindsided the Queen last week after they shockingly announced they wished to step back as senior royals and split their time between Canada and the UK.
The poll released by yesterday, shows that only three per cent of Canadians would be open to picking up the tab while 19 per cent said they would pay for some of the costs, but not all.
And five per cent said they were unsure.
It is unclear what role Canadians will play in funding the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, but Royal Canadian Mounted Police officials have said the couple are entitled to protection in the country.
Cpl. Caroline Duval of the RCMP said in a statement: "His Royal Highness, Prince Henry of Wales [Harry], along with members of his family, are Internationally Protected Persons (IPPs) and are entitled to the protection of the RCMP while in Canada."
She added the RCMP would be responsible for their security in Canada at "all times" and related costs would be covered through the "existing operational budget".
Meghan, 38, and Harry, 35, announced last week they will work towards being "financially independent" - but are still retaining certain royal privileges.
DECISION TIME
Despite stepping down from the royal family, the couple will still be awarded security at the hands of the UK taxpayers.
As they are deemed "internationally protected people" by the Home Office, they require constant armed security from the Metropolitan Police.
Meghan and Harry announced this arrangement would continue - with an estimated £600,000 bill for their six police bodyguards charged to the British taxpayer.
The Queen summoned Prince Charles and his two sons William and Harry to a historic summit at Sandringham on Monday to thrash out the Royal Family’s future.
Meghan kept in the loop with the crunch talks with Harry through encrypted WhatsApp messages and the spoke during breaks in the tense negotiations.
The returned last week to care for baby Archie at the 12,000-square-foot home called Mille Fleurs on a four-acre plot on Vancouver Island.
But the eight-hour time difference meant she was up throughout the night exchanging messages and calls with the prince as he fought their corner.
The Sandringham summit was scheduled to start at around 11am — 3am in Canada.
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The Queen released a statement following the summit saying the Royal Family are "entirely supportive of Harry and Meghan's desire to create a new life as a young family".
She said she wished the couple preferred to stay on as working royal, but respected their decision to step back.
The Canadian poll released this week surveyed 1,154 people across the country.
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