Yahoo News Prince Harry and Meghan Markle told Canadian taxpayers should not foot bill for security
Canadian taxpayers should not foot the bill for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s security, one of the country’s MPs has said.
Harry and Meghan are on Vancouver Island as they prepare to forge a new life for themselves and their baby son Archie after stepping back as “senior” royals.
The cost family’s security when they officially leave the monarchy in spring has been at the forefront of debate since they announced the move.
Laurel Collins, who is the MP for Victoria, where Harry and Meghan are staying, said she “hopes” they plan to cover their own costs.
She added: "When it comes to the money our government spends and taxpayer money it's important that we put this into context and think about our priorities.”
Ms Collins added she wanted to focus on young families in the area, who "might be struggling with the housing crisis or struggling with affordability".
It comes after a former Home Office minister warned the British public could face an "enormous bill" following the Sussexes’ bombshell announcement.
There has also been speculation that a "cost-sharing" deal between the UK and Canada could be agreed.
Security for the royal family as a whole costs the taxpayer in excess of an estimated £100 million a year, but the actual figure is never disclosed.
Harry and Meghan will earn their own money when they step back fully from royal life.
They had initially hoped for a dual role, supporting the Queen, the Commonwealth and Harry's military associations.
However, the idea was deemed unworkable.
The Prince of Wales will offer some private financial support to Harry and Meghan but it is not known if this will come from his £21 million a year Duchy of Cornwall income or other private funds.
There appeared to be a subdued response to the new arrivals, with one local business owner saying the people of Vancouver Island are a lot more laid back than their British counterparts.
Vancouver Island, an area known for its outstanding natural beauty, is off Canada's west coast and is part of the province of British Columbia.
On Tuesday the Sussexes issued a legal warning to the media after various outlets published paparazzi shots of Meghan walking her dogs with Archie.
The images of the duchess emerged on Monday morning and showed her walking her two pets with her son in a baby sling in a park in Vancouver.
But the pictures were reportedly taken by photographers hiding in bushes with long-lens cameras.
After the images surfaced, the couple's legal team at Schillings sent a legal notice to the UK press, TV and photo agencies warning against using them
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