Just like UK citizens, Canadians were also taken aback by Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's big announcement. They knew that their country was where Meghan shot most of Suits, but they probably never assumed that she'd be living there part-time after becoming a royal.
Curious about how they feel? A poll revealed that Canadians feel as if their country might do a better job protecting the privacy of the young family. However, they're not all that happy about paying for their security. While the monarchy and the Canadian government are still in the midst of discussing what'll happen when the move is official, there's a chance that their security costs may be reflected in Canadian tax dollars.
That in itself is reason to cringe. A reported 77% of Canadians aren't happy about that possibility, which makes sense. Especially because not everyone is a fan of the royal family. Still, things are up in the air. This is a matter that Harry and Meghan hopefully discussed before the big announcement was made.
“I have not spoken to her Majesty directly, discussions continue to be ongoing and I have no updates at this moment,” the prime minister reportedly stated in a press conference.
During the holidays, Meghan and Harry vacationed in Victoria, on Vancouver Island. They were there for roughly six weeks before coming back to the United Kingdom. They made their announcement soon after. Meghan returned to Canada shortly after, while Harry stuck around the United Kingdom to talk about how he envisioned his future role as a royal.
The fact that they had such a great time in Canada may have influenced their decision to make it their second home. During the break, a few fellow hikers had seen them hiking in the woods, looking happy as ever. That's just proof that the couple might not get the complete privacy they're hoping for.
Months earlier, it became clear that Harry and Meghan weren't thrilled with the amount of negative press Meghan was getting. It truly is an issue — unfortunately, some people have an issue with her being part of the royal family, and the press has pounced on that. In comparison to the headlines about Kate Middleton, Meghan's been constantly thrown under the bus.
Of course Prince Harry stands by his wife. Some narratives in the press blame Meghan for convincing him to do this, but Harry has long understood and lamented the negative effects of media scrutiny. He's also a grown man with his own immediate family to protect.
Money has been a big concern since the announcement was made. As a senior royal, Harry's income, housing, and security coverage has come from Prince Charles and public funds. The amount he still receives from Charles is reportedly in the ballpark of $2.5 million, according to Business Insider.
A lot of people had found fault with Harry and Meghan on that decision. While they openly stated that they no longer want to depend on public funds to get by, they're still depending heavily on others in the transition. But it's official per a statement — Harry and Meghan will "no longer receive public funds for Royal duties."
While the announcement shocked the Queen, she later released a supportive statement: "Harry, Meghan and Archie will always be much loved members of my family. I recognise the challenges they have experienced as a result of intense scrutiny over the last two years and support their wish for a more independent life."
Since Harry and Meghan have said that they'll try to be respectful toward the Queen and royal etiquette, it's unclear if she'll have to give her permission for any sort of entertainment gig that Harry and Meghan might take on. Since Meghan enjoyed life as an actress before her marriage, it makes sense that she might look for more roles as a source of income.
A statement from the Buckingham Palace also made it clear that Meghan and Harry were looking to repay some of the money already spent on their accommodations. "The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have shared their wish to repay Sovereign Grant expenditure for the refurbishment of Frogmore Cottage, which will remain their UK family home," it said. "Buckingham Palace does not comment on the details of security arrangements. There are well established independent processes to determine the need for publicly-funded security."
Meghan and Harry might also have support from unlikely fans. For example, Madonna offered to rent out her New York City apartment to the couple. In her words, she thinks that the couple can do better than Canada because "it's so boring there." Hopefully, Madonna's Canadian fans weren't listening.
“I’ll let them sublet my apartment on Central Park West," Madonna said. "It’s two-bedroom, it’s got the best view of Manhattan. Incredible balcony…No, Buckingham Palace has got nothing on CPW." It's interesting that Madonna would pitch this offer, since she was actually in a legal battle with her co-op.
And if the co-op didn't honor Madonna's request to sublet before, there's a good chance they won't allow it for Harry and Meghan. But it's possible that the royal couple doesn't necessarily want Archie to live a city life. Page Six reports that their new place is on Vancouver Island.
The financial fallout is something that Harry and Meghan likely were expecting when dropping this news. They'll need to have a plan that also includes their security costs. The Telegraph reports that there's a good chance that the couple will "reimburse the taxpayer for security provided on private business engagements with no Royal connection."
Daily Mail also states that currently, Harry and Meghan employ six security guards. Cosmopolitan says that "the plan is for their protection to eventually be taken over by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police." At least they have a plan in place. Within a year, surely everyone will know how the royal couple plans to execute their idea to live elsewhere.
