Canada Airs Security Costs for Harry, Trumps

Prince Harry's trips to Canada cost more to guard than any other VIP's over a recent five-year stretch—and more than previously disclosed. Newly released RCMP records, obtained by CBC News after a years-long access-to-information fight, show at least $539,575 was spent protecting Harry between 2014/15 and 2019/20, including visits tied to the Invictus Games and his relationship with Meghan Markle. That's about 10% of the more than $5.2 million the RCMP shelled out in that period to safeguard over 100 "internationally protected persons," a UN-defined group that includes foreign leaders, ex-presidents on the speaking circuit, royal family members, and senior officials. The stated cost excludes police officers' basic salaries, "meaning the full cost is somewhat higher," per the CBC.

The figure for Harry significantly tops the $334,337 the RCMP had previously acknowledged. Security costs for US ambassadors totaled $487,654 during the same period, while $446,333 was spent on security for US vice presidents Joe Biden and Mike Pence. Costs for Barack and Michelle Obama and Bill and Hillary Clinton came in at $295,411 and $143,927, respectively. The RCMP doesn't log security costs for President Trump during that period, though it does for his family members, including $51,558 as sons Eric and Donald Trump Jr. appeared at a Trump hotel opening in Vancouver in 2017. That same year, police spent $42,602 to protect First Lady Melania Trump during a visit to the Invictus Games. Some experts argue high-earning figures should help cover the cost of primarily commercial trips.