Three quarters of Canadians still do NOT want to pay for Harry and Meghan’s security

The majority of Canadians still do not want to pay for Harry and Meghan’s security as they are not representing the Queen.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex settled in British Columbia following their step down from their roles as senior royals last month.

But seventy-seven per cent of Canadians believe the taxpayer does not have to pay for the couple’s security because they are not in in the country as representatives of the monarch.

It is thought that only 19 per cent of Canadians would not object to their country assuming a share of the security costs, according to the statistics by Nanos Research for CTV.

Canadian authorities have indicated that discussions are underway about who would foot the bill now that Harry and Meghan have officially left the royal family. 

There has not yet been any official announcement.

More than two-thirds of Canadians feel that the privacy of the couple, along with eight-month-old Archie, will be better respected in Canada than it was in Britain.

But Harry and Meghan, who are now living in Victoria on Vancouver Island, are taking no chances.

Last month they issued a legal warning to the media over photographs of the duchess out hiking with Archie and two dogs.

Their lawyers claimed the images were taken without Meghan’s consent, the BBC reported, and the couple were prepared to take legal action.

However, Scotland Yard officers guarding the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have recently said that they are treated ‘like skivvies’ and forced to do ‘menial tasks’ like picking up takeaways and groceries, it has been claimed. 

Highly-trained protection staff have also allegedly been seen buying food from an organic delicatessen, a favourite of Meghan’s, and picking up coffees from fast food outlet Tim Hortons.

The Duke and Duchess’s security is estimated to cost taxpayers in Canada and the UK between £3million and £6million a year as staff work round the clock two weeks at a time.   

There has been no official announcement about the question of security for Prince Harry and Meghan, or who will cover the bill, now that they have officially left the royal family

Canada is currently a parliamentary monarchy and Queen Elizabeth II is the reigning head of state. 

Only 32 per cent of those surveyed were strongly in favour of maintaining links with the royal family and their country’s status as a constitutional monarchy. 

And instead 35 per cent would be more or less strongly in favour of abolishing links with the British monarchy.

More than 1,000 Canadians submitted response to the survey that was conducted by telephone and online.

Cracking up: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were seen awkwardly laughing on Sunday night after Margot Robbie quipped about Megxit during a BAFTA acceptance speech 

Last night the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were seen awkwardly laughing during the BAFTA ceremony when Margot Robbie joked about Megxit during an acceptance speech. 

William and Kate were the guests of honour at the 73rd annual EE British Academy Film Awards at the Royal Albert Hall, London, and watched as Brad Pitt was named best Supporting Actor for his role in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.

But with the star absent from the ceremony, his co-star Margot read out a speech on his behalf.

She said: ‘[Brad] says he is going to name this Harry because he is really excited about bringing it back to the States with him. 

‘His words not mine.’

The camera immediately panned to the Duke and Duchess at the ceremony, who were seen laughing alongside the rest of the crowd from their seats.