The RCMP Has Confirmed Canada Will No Longer Provide Security Services for Harry & Meghan
As of March 31.
There has been plenty of conversation around Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s decision to step down as senior royals of the British royal family. From where they’ll live (the pair is currently settled in Vancouver though it is expected they will split their time between Canada, the US and the UK moving forward) to what their new business endeavours will look like, just about every part of their new lives has been analyzed and talked about. One major topic of discussion for Canadians has been around the provision of security services to the pair whilst they reside in the country – however that’s all set to change from March 31.
According to CBC News, Canadians will no longer be paying for their security with protection services ending in the “coming weeks.” The end of the protection services is in line with when the pair will officially step back from royal duties at the end of March.
The office of Public Safety Minister Bill Blair said in a statement, “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 has been engaged with officials in the UK from the very beginning regarding security considerations. As the Duke and Duchess are currently recognized 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.”
Meghan and Harry are both in the UK for the next few weeks as they undertake a series of events prior to March 31. Prince Harry has already attended several events over the past few days, and he will be joined by Meghan at the Endeavour Fund Awards tomorrow. After that, the pair is scheduled to make joint appearances at the Mountbatten Festival of Music on Saturday and at the Commonwealth Day service alongside the Queen and other royal family members on March 9 at Westminster Abbey. Meghan is also expected to attend an International Women’s Day event on Sunday, March 8.
 to what their new business endeavours will look like, just about every part of their new lives has been analyzed and talked about. One major topic of discussion for Canadians has been around the provision of security services to the pair whilst they reside in the country – however that's all set to change from March 31.
According to CBC News, Canadians will no longer be paying for their security with protection services ending in the "coming weeks." The end of the protection services is in line with when the pair will officially step back from royal duties at the end of March.
The office of Public Safety Minister Bill Blair said in a statement, "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 has been engaged with officials in the UK from the very beginning regarding security considerations. As the Duke and Duchess are currently recognized 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."
Meghan and Harry are both in the UK for the next few weeks as they undertake a series of events prior to March 31. Prince Harry has already attended several events over the past few days, and he will be joined by Meghan at the Endeavour Fund Awards tomorrow. After that, the pair is scheduled to make joint appearances at the Mountbatten Festival of Music on Saturday and at the Commonwealth Day service alongside the Queen and other royal family members on March 9 at Westminster Abbey. Meghan is also expected to attend an International Women's Day event on Sunday, March 8.){kind=link}