Canada to stop footing security bill for Sussexes

CANADA will stop footing the bill for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s security when they step back from their roles as working members of the Royal family, it emerged last night.

The couple have benefited from the protection of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), which has worked alongside Scotland Yard since they arrived in the country in November.

But following weeks of speculation, the Canadian government confirmed that from April, “in keeping with their change in status,” it will no longer contribute to security costs.

It acknowledged that the couple’s presence in the country presented a “unique and unprecedented set of circumstances” but that Canada was only “obliged” to provide security assistance when they were classified as “internationally protected persons”.

The British taxpayer is now expected to foot the bill. In a statement released on their website on Friday the Sussexes insisted they would continue to require security because of the Duke’s military service and the Duchess’s “own independent profile”.

The issue has proved one of the most contentious since they announced they wanted to quit official royal life and has been loudly debated on both sides of the pond. Some commentators have suggested the couple replace some of their Treasury-funded armed protection officers with private bodyguards.

Justin Trudeau, the Canadian prime minister, has faced questions about the issue as one survey indicated that more than three quarters of the country’s population did not believe they should foot the couple’s security bill.

The Queen, 93, is likely to have been acutely aware that a backlash in Canada, as a Commonwealth realm, would have been less than ideal for the monarchy.

The announcement that the RCMP would be withdrawing its services was made by the office of Bill Blair, Canada’s public safety minister, and broadcast on CBS News last night.

The Duke of Sussex arrived back in the UK on Tuesday to carry out a final flurry of official engagements.

Today he will meet Jon Bon Jovi, the singer, at a recording session for a single in aid of the Invictus Games before being joined by the Duchess next week.