Prince Harry and Meghan have confirmed they will use privately-funded security while living in California, after Donald Trump said Americans would not foot the bill.
The US President tweeted on Sunday that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex ‘must pay’ after they moved from Vancouver, in Canada, to Los Angeles via private flight.
He wrote: ‘I am a great friend and admirer of the Queen and the United Kingdom. It was reported that Harry and Meghan, who left the Kingdom, would reside permanently in Canada. Now they have left Canada for the US however, the US will not pay for their security protection. They must pay!’
A spokesperson for the Sussexes, who share son Archie Harrison, has now said the couple had ‘no plans’ to ask the US government for security assistance.
They continued: ‘Privately-funded security arrangements have been made.’
In January, Meghan and Harry announced that they would be leaving their senior roles within the Royal Family and becoming financially independent. They will officially end their royal duties on March 31.
Canadian officials had already stated that they would stop paying for the family’s security once they ceased being senior royals. It is thought the cost of protecting the Sussexes is around £20,000,000 a-year.
The Sussexes were believed to be setting up their permanent base in Canada, where the Duchess lived before she met Harry. However, the couple left their rented home and flew to the US shortly before the border closed amid the coronavirus pandemic.
They are now living in lockdown close to Hollywood in accordance with California’s Covid-19 containment measures.
A source told The Sun: ‘This move was planned for some time. They realised Canada would not work out for various reasons and they want to be based in the Los Angeles area.
‘They have a big support network there. It’s where their new team of Hollywood agents and PRs and business managers are based. Meghan has lots of friends there and, of course, her mum Doria.’
It was announced last week that Meghan will be providing the voiceover for a Disney documentary about elephants in her first post-royal gig.
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