Canada deals blow to Harry and Meghan ​

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s post-royal plans have hit another snag.

The Canadian government has announced it will stop paying for the couple’s security costs once they step back from royal duties.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police have been assisting the Metropolitan Police with security for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex “intermittently” since November, when the couple began a six-week holiday in Canada.

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But once Megxit has happened on March 31, Canada will stop providing security for the couple, reports The Sun.

The Canadian government statement said: “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,” the government statement said.

“The assistance will cease in the coming weeks, in keeping with their change in status.”
 

The announcement comes as it was revealed that Harry and Meghan will “continue to require effective security by the Metropolitan Police to protect them and their son”.

Scotland Yard’s bill for guarding the globetrotting couple and nine-month-old Archie could rise to up to $39 million per year.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex insisted the taxpayer should cough up “based on the Duke’s public profile by virtue of being born a royal, his military service, the Duchess’s independent profile.”

Police fear resources will be stretched while protecting the couple who are set to potentially rake in more than a billion dollars following their split from the royal family, experts say.

One ex-protection officer told The Mirror: “This is adding to the Met’s woes.”

Senior officers are understood to be drafting emergency plans to double the ­British protection team guarding the family.

Former Met protection officer Dai Davies said Harry and Meghan were acting “like none of the rules apply to them.”

He said: “In their current state the plans are unworkable.

“Harry and Meghan’s ­situation has called for a complete ripping up of the ­rule book and they are acting like none of the rules apply to them.

“There is already a severe lack of trained officers and this is only adding to the Met’s woes.”

Scotland Yard refused to comment when contacted by The Sun.
 

This comes as the pair are free to pull in hundreds of millions from a commercial empire based on book and TV deals, public speaking gigs, brand partnerships and fashion lines.

They are officially cutting royal ties on March 31.

Robert Watts, compiler of the Sunday Times’ Rich List, estimates the couple are on course to triple the $695 million net worth of the Beckhams.

After probing Harry and Meghan’s financial background, Mr Watts said: “You can’t underestimate the international appeal of being a Royal.

“And the appeal is even bigger in the US, Canada and the rest of the world.

“I think it’s possible that in ten years’ time, Prince Harry and Meghan could make it on to the Sunday Times Rich List with £500 million (A$979 million) and £1 billion (A$1.95 billion) in the longer term.”

Prince Charles’s biographer, Tom Bower, slammed Meghan for trying to “commercialise the monarchy” despite having “no status”.

He said: “She has a whole career of commercial exploitation of herself.

“She has absolutely no status apart from being attached to the royal family.”

In their first joint UK event since their bombshell decision to cut ties with the royal family, the couple will attend the annual Endeavour Fund Awards on March 5 in London.

They were last seen together on January 7 when they visited Canada House in London to thank the nation for hosting them during their festive break in the Commonwealth country.

Meanwhile, the Duke of Sussex said “call me Harry” as he launched his final round of royal duties yesterday before stepping down.

He took to the stage for his eco-friendly project Travalyst after arriving in Edinburgh from Canada by commercial jet and train.
 

This article originally appeared in The Sun and was reproduced with permission.