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It’s not cheap being a royal (or even an ex-royal). The Canadian Taxpayers Federation uncovered exactly how much it costs to protect the Duke and Duchess of Sussex during their stay in Canada last year—around $40,000.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry stayed on Vancouver Island after they announced their departure from royal duties at the start of the year. Their security costs were a topic of debate among members of the Canadain government and residents.
In fact, more than 80,000 Canadians signed an online petition demanding that Meghan and Harry pay for their own security while living in Canada. By March, the Canadian government announced that they would no longer provide security for the couple.
Royal Canadian Mounted Police spent CA$56,384 on security for Meghan and Harry. That amount translates to about 40K U.S. dollars and did not include the salaries of the officers on duty for the couple. The amount indicated in the report represents the costs relating to "overtime, travel, meals, incidentals, and accommodations.”
The couple has since moved to L.A. According to Vanity Fair, Prince Charles is now footing the bill to cover their security at an estimated cost of $5 million per year. Maybe they won’t have to depend on Charles for much longer. The couple recently signed with the Harry Walker Agency to represent them for speaking engagements. They join an A list of Hollywood entertainers and other famous politicians such as Michelle and Barack Obama.
