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Watch: Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan: Tyler Perry Paid for Our Safety
Prince Harry has claimed that he was financially “cut off” by his family after retiring from his lead royal role in January 2020.
The Duke of Sussex said Meghan and Archie’s security was cut off, which he claimed was one of the reasons behind their decision to move to California from Canada, where they had been saying after resigning as royalty to early last year.
During an inflammatory interview with Oprah Winfrey, the couple revealed that Hollywood producer Tyler Perry helped them with security when they arrived in California while they figured out what to do.
Harry said: “My family literally cut me off financially and I had to pay security for us … in the first quarter of 2020.”
He added: “His justification was a change in status. I stepped back and said is there a change in threat or risk?
“Finally, I received confirmation that no, the risk has not changed, but due to our change in status, we would no longer be ‘official’ members of the royal family.”
Harry and Meghan announced their plans to step back in January 2020, confirming in mid-February that they would cease to be “active royals” as of March 31, 2020.
During his stay in Canada, his security was provided by the Canadian government. However, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau confirmed that he would end that support after Harry and Meghan’s status changed at the end of March.
So later that month, the Sussexes moved to California when they began the 12-month “transition period,” which would give them the time and space they needed to review the situation if they needed it.
Read more: Harry and Meghan Interview: Was Archie Denied a Royal Title When He Was Born?
Royal finance expert David McClure told Yahoo UK: “I was shocked when he said he had been financially cut, he received payments of up to £ 2.5m.” [from Prince Charles and the Duchy of Cornwall] to cover the additional costs of the transition. It wasn’t like he was totally isolated.
“That was very generous.
“That money had to be used in any way he wanted, including security, everyone knew that security was going to be a great cost, not to be forgotten.
“It happened very quickly, he had to leave Canada for California very quickly because of COVID, that was no one’s fault.
“I think he’s a bit amnesiac in some of these comments.
“He said he still had his inheritance, that’s true, but it’s not the whole story. He had millions, he had a pension from the army, not much but it’s money.
“No one is suggesting that Meghan has no money, so that’s it.”
Estimates of Harry’s value include nearly £ 7 million inherited from Diana, although this will have grown with the investment. Meghan was thought to be worth between £ 2 million and £ 3 million in 2020, earning £ 333,000 per season for six runs of the legal drama Suits.
McClure, author of The Queen’s True Worth, added: “There is no money from the Queen Mother’s trust fund, but the Queen has created one of her own for her family.
“I don’t think he understood the real finances. As long as he is in Britain, the taxpayer will pay for his safety.”
When Harry and Meghan laid out their plans to step back, they said they wanted to “work to be financially independent.”
They suggested in the interview with Winfrey that there are other people who strike the balance they were looking for, describing family members who earn money but also support the Queen.
Look: Meghan and Harry interview: Queen deliberately makes it clear that Palace may not agree
Read more: Prince Charles ‘laughs’ when asked about Harry and Meghan in their first public appearance since the interview
Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie have jobs, and although they appear at family events, such as Trooping the Color and Royal Ascot, they never represent the Queen.
Your security is not paid by the taxpayer.
Prince Michael of Kent, one of the Queen’s cousins, runs his own consulting business, but has in the past represented the Queen in the Commonwealth, though never in the UK.
According to his website, he does not receive any money from the taxpayer.
Prince Michael’s website explains: “The commitments made by Prince and Princess Michael of Kent are not included in the Court Circular because they generally do not carry out official duties on behalf of the Queen.
“Prince Michael is not eligible for the parliamentary annuities that other members of the Royal Family receive, because he is a second child.”
The royal family’s website reads: “Prince and Princess Michael do not receive public money, but perform a number of public functions, including representing the queen at certain engagements. For example, Prince Michael has represented the queen. at state funerals in India, Cyprus and Swaziland. “
The last commitment listed with a date is 2006.
There was some controversy in 2002 when it was revealed that he and his wife were only paying £ 69 a week to live in an apartment at Kensington Palace, but the Queen stepped in to pay the rent.
The move was said to be due to the work the prince and princess did without receiving public money.
Security is a sensitive issue for royalty, and it is not something that the palace discusses publicly.
The bill to protect the Royal Family is reported to cost the UK around £ 100 million a year.
The Specialized Protection and Royalty division of the Metropolitan Police provides close protection to the royal family.
Former royal protection officer Simon Morgan told ITV: “Even when directors are away from the public eye, they still need protection.
“The royal family has protection from cradle to grave, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
“All time.”
Explaining how the decision could have played out, Morgan told The Telegraph: “The government’s VIP and royal security committee makes the decision about who receives protection and who does not. It is not in the queen’s gift to give protection or to take it away.
“Once Harry and Meghan step down as serving royals, they become high-net-worth people / top-tier celebrities, but that doesn’t entitle them to taxpayer-funded security.
“Elton John has to pay for his own safety and so does Harry and Meghan.”
After the so-called Sandringham Summit in 2020, where the terms of Harry and Meghan’s withdrawal were set, a statement from Buckingham Palace said that “Buckingham Palace does not comment on the details of the security arrangements.”
“There are well-established independent processes for determining the need for publicly funded security.”
A statement from the palace on behalf of the Queen after the interview with Winfrey said: “The whole family is saddened to learn the extent of how challenging the last few years have been for Harry and Meghan.”
“The issues raised, particularly race, are troubling. While some memories may vary, they are taken very seriously and will be addressed in private by the family.
“Harry, Meghan and Archie will always be very dear family members.”
