Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Harry cops in £1,100 a week Airbnb & we pay
Met shock as Archie to stay in Canada and Mounties quit
DETECTIVES protecting Prince Harry and wife Meghan have been staying in a £1,100-a-week Airbnb in Canada at taxpayers’ expense.
The Duke and Duchess’ security team were based near the couple’s plush eightbedroom, ocean-front mansion on Vancouver Island.
The protection officers only moved out when Harry, 35, flew back to the UK last week for his remaining public appearances before stepping back fully from royal life.
A neighbour said: “There used to be a security team there. They moved out a few days ago when Harry went. We haven’t seen them since.” Other officers are understood to have stayed in a waterfront hotel since Harry and Meghan arrived in November. Details of the Airbnb base came as it emerged that the couple’s nine-month-old son Archie will not return to the UK when Meghan joins Harry here for their final engagements.
It is understood that will stretch the resources of the Met Police, which is in charge of protecting the couple.
While the Duke and Duchess are being protected in the UK, their son will also require security in Canada.
It will intensify the debate about the cost of the couple’s protection, which the Mirror revealed is estimated to be as high as £20million per year.
The Met and Canadian Mounties have been providing protection but Canadian authorities last week said their cover will cease on March 31, due to the couple’s “change in status”.
As a result, the Met must double their protection team and it wants officers willing to rotate jobs every two months, working on both sides of the Atlantic.
Buckingham Palace yesterday declined to comment.