LOS ANGELES - Meghan Markle and Prince Harry might finally be putting down roots in sunny Los Angeles, Markle's home state, but the couple still has loose strings that need tying up in Canada, reports Cosmopolitan.
Before their move to the City of Angels in March this year, at the height of the coronavirus pandemic, the couple lived on Vancouver Island, Canada for a brief period.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have yet to settle the hefty cost of their security arrangements during their Canadian interlude, reportedly initially paid by Canadian taxpayers.
According to celebrity news outlet Page Six, and the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, the royal couple reportedly ran up more than CAD$56,384 (S$58,030) in security fees between November 2019 and January 2020.
This is only half the total time the couple spent in the country.
The Canadian Taxpayers Federation, a taxpayer advocacy non-profit organization, noted that the sum only reflected The Royal Canadian Mounted Police's "overtime, travel, meals, incidentals, and accommodations".
The cost is believed to be much higher once other expenses are taken into consideration.
Nearly 100,000 Canadians have signed a petition declaring that they should not bear the costs for Meghan and Harry's security.
However, the royals reportedly have a reimbursement plan, according to British news outlet, The Telegraph.
In January, the British broadsheet reported that the couple would "reimburse the taxpayer for security provided on private business engagements with no royal connection" if they are "commercially successful."
US President Donald Trump took to Twitter when news of the couple's relocation broke, writing: "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!"
It is unclear how commercially successful the royal couple have been in these recent months, or when Canadian taxpayers would be reimbursed.
