Prince Harry's Secret Security Costs in Canada Exceed Half a Million Dollars

Official documents from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) revealed that Canadian taxpayers funded Prince Harry's security during his visits between 2014 and 2020 at a cost exceeding $539,575. This amount is the highest ever spent on a protected individual in Canada during that period and significantly surpasses the security costs for his father, King Charles, whose 2017 visit cost taxpayers $178,584. The security expenses for Harry and Meghan Markle accounted for about 10% of Canada's total security budget for over 100 international protected persons visiting the country at the time.

The disclosure came after a prolonged legal battle in which the RCMP attempted to withhold the information, but the Information Commissioner ordered the release of the documents. The list also includes security costs for other high-profile figures such as former U.S. Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton, Donald Trump's children, Israeli intelligence chiefs, and Israeli ambassadors to Canada, whose security expenses reached $377,897. The revelations sparked criticism from local security experts who argued that taxpayers should not bear the full cost of protecting private individuals visiting Canada for personal or commercial reasons, urging these visitors to contribute to their security expenses.