It is not known who will pay for the couple's security,
Canada will not pay for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s security when they step back from royal duties, it was announced today.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will walk away on March 31 and give up public funding to become financially independent, but there has been speculation over who will pay to keep them safe.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RMCP) has protected the couple and their baby Archie since November but has now said this will cease in the ‘coming weeks’.
Mary-Liz Power, a spokeswoman for Canada’s public safety minister, said ‘the assistance will cease in the coming weeks, in keeping with their change in status’.
Power said that as Duke and Duchess of Sussex, they have been considered ‘internationally protected persons’ who warranted security measures under international treaty.
Britain’s Metropolitan Police also had requested the Royal Canadian Police to provide assistance.
It is not yet clear who will pay security costs for the royal couple and their baby Archie now.
The full statement from Canada’s Office of the Minister of Public Safety read: ‘The Duke and Duchess of Sussex choosing to relocate to Canada on a part-time basis presented our government with a unique and unprecedented set of circumstances.
‘The RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police) has been engaged with officials in the UK from the very beginning regarding security considerations.
‘As the Duke and Duchess are currently recognised as Internationally Protected Persons, Canada has an obligation to provide security assistance on an as-needed basis.
‘At the request of the Metropolitan Police, the RCMP has been providing assistance to the Met since the arrival of the Duke and Duchess to Canada intermittently since November 2019.
‘The assistance will cease in the coming weeks, in keeping with their change in status.’
Harry and Meghan announced on Friday they would stop using the word ‘royal’ in their branding from Spring 2020 after they stop working for the Royal Family in March.
On Wednesday, the prince arrived in Edinburgh to host a sustainable travel conference in his first public appearance in the UK since announcing he was quitting.
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