What Canadians Really Think Of Prince Harry And Meghan Markle
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's decision to leave behind their roles as senior royals and spend part of their time living in Canada sparked an unprecedented response from the Queen of England. The shocking decision also prompted another world leader to address the situation: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
"There are still a lot of decisions to be taken by the Royal Family, by the Sussexes themselves as to what level of engagement they choose to have," Trudeau told Global News. He said the Canadian government has not yet been involved with the details of the move and noted that he's "not entirely sure what the final decisions will be" when it comes to how the royals' presence will officially be handled. He did state that the country backs Megxit. "I think most Canadians are very supportive of having royals be here. ...There is a general feeling of appreciation for the Sussexes."
However, Trudeau also admitted that there is one big — and expensive — question that has still not been answered and could cause a big — expensive — problem.
Canadians could 'revolt' over Harry and Meghan's security bill
It sounds like Canada is ready and willing to welcome Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, and their son, Archie, with open arms. That is if one major issue can be resolved. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told Global News that "there are still lots of discussions to have" when it comes to "what kind of costs are involved" when the royals live in Canada. While you might assume that Harry and Meghan can afford to pay for their own lifestyle, there happens to be the matter of their security.
According to CTV News, Canadians could end up paying a hefty price to keep the royals safe. "There are estimates that the security could cost about $1.7 million," said expert Evan Solomon. He pointed out that while the budget for the royals' security is covered by British taxpayers while they're in the U.K., the cost is the responsibility of Canadian taxpayers when royals make an official visit to Canada. The big question: Would Canucks be on the hook for the royals' security costs if they're in the country more permanently?
Solomon thinks Canadians might "revolt" if that happened, but British Columbia Premier John Horgan doesn't seem concerned. "Who is going to pay for it? I haven't given it a lot of thought and I'm sure people are working on it..." he told Global.
Megxit may be a royal 'fairy tale' for Canada
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's decision to split their time between the U.K. and Canada has certainly stirred up plenty of debate on both sides of the pond, but when the dust settles, the resulting situation may be a dream come true for the North American country.
According to The New York Times, Harry and Meghan deciding to become part-time Canadians "has unleashed a frenzy of excitement" and left many people feeling "giddy at the prospect." Frankly, the duke and duchess' decision is "the fairy tale ending [Canadians] all deserve," according to a Globe and Mail op-ed. "Meghan and Harry's choice to step back has sparked the type of change in which everybody wins."
Many Canadian seem to agree, including Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who tweeted about the family's stay in Canada during the holidays. "Prince Harry, Meghan, and Archie, we're all wishing you a quiet and blessed stay in Canada," he wrote. "You're among friends, and always welcome here."
In turn, many believe Harry and Meghan will also benefit from a new life in Canada.
Harry and Meghan can 'let their hair down' in Canada
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are constantly under scrutiny while in the U.K. and therefore must maintain a level of formality that is in line with their royal roles. However, over in Canada, the pair, along with their son, Archie, can simply be a family and enjoy time together.
Robert Finch, chairman of the Monarchist League of Canada, told CTV News, "Canada's a vast country, and sometimes it's nice to be lost in the vastness of it. I think many members of the royal family have seen how they can live a little less formal, be a little less stuffy, really let their hair down."
Canada also boasts (humbly, of course) a countrywide culture that respects personal boundaries as well as a relatively laid-back lifestyle. "By and large, what Canada can offer the royal couple is a degree of privacy and informality that they are not afforded in the U.K.," according to the BBC. This is the kind of respectful national nature that Harry and Meghan have apparently already been indulging in...
Harry and Meghan have already been mingling with Canadians
Over the 2019 holidays, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle celebrated Christmas in Canada along with little Archie. The family seemed to enjoy its time in British Columbia, where the duke and duchess were able to mingle with the locals during a stroll through Vancouver Island's Horth Hill Regional Park.
Iliya Pavlovic and Asymina Kantorowicz were also in the park that day and stopped to take a picture of themselves, but then someone offered to take the photo for them. "We noticed a group was standing nearby and they had two dogs, one of which was approaching us," Kantorowicz told CTV News. "[The woman] starts asking if we want her to take a photo for us. We said sure. I didn't see who she was at that time." That woman happened to be the Duchess of Sussex, who was there with Prince Harry. Although the couple didn't immediately recognize Meghan, Kantorowicz remained calm even after making the connection. "She handed the phone back and said, 'Happy New Year!' and we said, 'Thanks and happy New Year!'" And that was it.
British Columbia Premier John Horgan told Global News that residents in the province should "pat [them]selves on the back" for respecting Harry and Meghan's privacy during their stay. He even offered to help the royals find work. "I am sure I could find something for Harry to do. And the film industry is booming in British Columbia and I'm sure Meghan could get on to maybe Riverdale."