Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s recent visit to British Columbia in February came with a hefty price tag for Vancouver’s taxpayers, as the Vancouver Police Department logged more than $44,000 in overtime expenses during their three-day stay. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were in Vancouver and Whistler from February 14 to 16 to promote the upcoming Invictus Games, slated to be held in the province in February 2025. The Invictus Games, founded by Prince Harry in 2014, is a multi-sport event for wounded, injured, and sick armed forces personnel and veterans.
Cost Breakdown
According to data obtained through a freedom of information request, the Vancouver Police Department spent a total of $44,555 on security-related overtime during the royal visit. While the Invictus Games covered $10,221 of the cost through reimbursement, Canadian taxpayers were left to bear the remaining $34,333, which accounted for 390.5 hours of overtime work.
Records obtained by CTVNews.ca reveal that the expenses were categorized as “overtime for police security.” However, a spokesperson from the Vancouver Police Department clarified that the officers were not specifically assigned to provide security for the royal couple. Instead, they were present in the area as a precautionary measure due to ongoing protests in the city at the time.
Security Measures and Public Reactions
In February, Vancouver witnessed a series of protests, including demonstrations supporting Palestinians and Sikh independence. Doug Maynard, the director of security for Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler 2025, stated that while Prince Harry’s private security was privately funded through individual donations, Vancouver Police resources were allocated to ensure public safety amidst potential protest-related disruptions.
“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,” Maynard explained in a statement to CTVNews.ca. “Public safety was ensured by Vancouver Police resources in the area should issues have arisen due to protests in the city at that time.”
Despite assurances that taxpayer money was not directly funding the royal couple’s security, some citizens remain concerned about the transparency and rationale behind these costs. Franco Terrazzano, the Canadian Taxpayers Federation director, expressed skepticism over the spending: “Tens of thousands of dollars is nothing to sneeze at. It’s hard to understand why taxpayers are footing this bill. The government owes taxpayers a clear explanation on what the policy is in these circumstances because taxpayers are paying, and it’s not clear why.”
Historical Context and Policy Implications
This recent expenditure has reignited discussions about the cost of providing security for visiting royals. In February 2020, Public Safety Canada announced it would cease providing RCMP security for Harry and Meghan following their decision to step back from royal duties and relinquish their titles. The RCMP had previously spent over $56,000 protecting the couple during their stay in Canada between November 2019 and January 2020.
An additional access to information request confirmed that the RCMP did not offer security services during the couple’s February visit to Whistler. Yet, in 2023, the RCMP allocated more than $80,000 for security during two short trips to Canada by Princess Anne, Harry’s aunt, further highlighting the inconsistency in security spending for royal visits.
Duff Conacher, co-founder of Democracy Watch, emphasized the need for greater transparency in such expenditures: “The police should be regularly and proactively disclosing details about costs like this because taxpayers have a right to know how their money is spent as it is being spent.”
Prince Harry’s Security Challenges
The scrutiny over security costs is not limited to Canada. Prince Harry is also challenging a February 2020 decision by the British government to revoke his police protection while in the UK. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, along with their children, have resided in California since stepping away from their royal roles, raising questions about the security measures they require when traveling internationally.
The royal couple’s visit to Vancouver has underscored the complexities surrounding security arrangements and taxpayer contributions for high-profile visitors. As the public calls for more clarity on the allocation of resources, the debate over the cost of royal security continues to evolve, both in Canada and abroad.
