The cost of police overtime for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s brief visit to Vancouver has been revealed.
Prince Harry and Meghan pictured in Canada back in February (Image: GETTY)
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s brief visit to Vancouver cost around £34,558 ($44k) in police overtime, it has been revealed.
Canadian police have now logged the cost of their overtime during the couple’s short trip – which saw them visit both Vancouver and Whistler between February 14 and 16.
The visit came as the couple promoted Harry’s Invictus Games, which is set to take place in Vancouver and Whistler in February 2025.
The Duke of Sussex, who stepped down from royal duty back in 2020, launched the Games – which is a multi-sporting event for wounded, injured and sick armed forces and veterans – in 2014.
Whilst the Games covered £8,027 ($10,221) of the cost, taxpayers in Canada were still expected to fork out £34,558 ($44k) in overtime.
In records, which have been obtained by CTVNews.ca, the costs were described as being to cover “overtime for police security”.
In an email to CTVNews.ca, a Vancouver Police Department spokesperson said: “We didn’t specifically provide security for them [Harry and Meghan]. But we had officers in the area they were in [in] case any issues arose due to the ongoing protests in the city.”
A number of protests also took place in Vancouver back in February, including rallies in support of Palestinians and Sikh independence.
In a statement to the publication, Doug Maynard – who is director of security for Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler 2025 – said that taxpayers “did not fund” security during the Vancouver visit.
Harry and Meghan’s visit took place between February 14 and 16 (Image: GETTY)
He said: “Taxpayers did not fund The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s security during their visit last February; their private security detail was paid by individual donations directed by the donors for that purpose.
“Public safety was ensured by Vancouver Police resources in the area should issues have arisen due to protests in the city at that time.”
Speaking back in February 2020 – just weeks after it was revealed that Harry and Meghan had made the decision to step down from royal duties – Public Safety Canada announced that it would stop providing RCMP security to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
It was previously reported that the RCMP spent more than £43,000 ($56k) to protect the couple during the weeks that they spent in Canada between November 2019 and January 2020.
