Prince Harry and Meghan Markle tell Donald Trump they weren't going to ask US for LA security

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have insisted they never intended to ask Donald Trump for help with security costs after the President tweeted to say US taxpayers would not contribute towards protecting them.  

'The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have no plans to ask the U.S. Government for security resources,' a Sussex spokesman set yesterday. 'Privately funded security arrangements have been made.' 

Today the palace refused to comment about whether this meant UK taxpayers would no longer have to contribute towards any future bill. 

The Sussexes' quick fire reply came hours after Mr Trump said the couple should foot the bill for their bodyguards, now they have moved across the border to LA from Vancouver where Canadian police helped with security. 
 

Trump said: 'I am a great friend and admirer of the Queen & 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 U.S. however, the U.S. will not pay for their security protection. They must pay!'

The bill for their security, which includes a roster of nine highly skilled British officers shuttling between the UK and US, is estimated to be as much as £8 million a year and is covered by British taxpayers through the Metropolitan Police budget. They also received support from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

Royal sources had said that if Harry and Meghan wanted help with security from the Secret Service in the US, which protects international diplomats, a request would have to be made to the State Department. 

Ultimately the decision would have rested with Trump, and he made clear today that the US taxpayer would not help fund the couple's security. 

It is not known what the 'private' security arrangements Meghan and Harry claim to have made are.





MAilOnline