For years, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have spoken about their desire to create a more independent life away from royal expectations and constant public attention. But newly released financial records have brought a different kind of attention to the couple — this time focusing not on their personal choices, but on the public money spent protecting them during their time in Canada.

According to a report from the Daily Mail, newly released Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) documents reveal that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s security costs reached $539,000 CAD between April 2015 and March 2020. The figures were uncovered after Canada’s national broadcaster CBC spent six years fighting for access to the information.

The records show that Prince Harry had the highest taxpayer-funded security bill among all VIP visitors to Canada during that five-year period. The amount was even higher than the costs associated with protecting several former U.S. presidents, including Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, and Donald Trump.

The controversy is not only about the total amount spent, but also about when the largest expenses occurred. The biggest security costs came during the period when Harry and Meghan’s relationship was still private and developing behind the scenes.

In the 2016–2017 financial year, when Harry first met Meghan through a blind date and the couple began secretly dating, Canadian taxpayers spent around $106,000 CAD on his protection. At the time, Meghan was filming Suits in Toronto, and Harry reportedly made several private trips to visit her.

The following year, the cost increased dramatically. During 2017–2018 — the year Harry proposed to Meghan while she was filming the final season of Suits — his security bill reached $364,859 CAD, the highest amount recorded for any VIP visiting Canada during that period.

Harry had strong personal connections with Canada, having visited the country frequently for Invictus Games events and military-related activities. Toronto also became an important location in his personal life because it was where his relationship with Meghan began.

The couple later described the early months of their romance as a rare period of privacy away from public attention. Meghan previously said:

“We had a good five, six months almost with just privacy, which was amazing.”

However, the newly released figures suggest that maintaining that privacy came with a significant public cost.

The documents also revealed a separate security expense connected directly to Meghan Markle. Canadian authorities recorded a payment of $10,586 CAD for protection during a private three-day trip Meghan made to Toronto in 2018 to spend time with her close friend Jessica Mulroney.

According to CBC’s investigation, this was believed to be Meghan’s only visit to Canada during that financial year.

The connection between Meghan and Canada had been especially strong because she spent seven years filming Suits in Toronto. During that time, Jessica Mulroney became one of her closest friends and was reportedly one of the few people trusted to help keep her relationship with Harry secret in its early stages.

Jessica was also among the first people Meghan contacted after Harry proposed. Her children later played important roles at the royal wedding, with her twin sons John and Brian carrying Meghan’s wedding dress train, while her daughter Ivy served as a bridesmaid alongside Princess Charlotte.

But their friendship eventually ended after Jessica faced criticism in 2020 following accusations from a Black influencer that she had displayed “textbook white privilege” during a disagreement connected to the Black Lives Matter movement. Meghan was reportedly no longer in contact with her former friend afterward.

The security costs connected to Harry and Meghan dropped significantly after their marriage, as the couple spent more time in the United Kingdom. Records show expenses falling to $866 CAD in 2018–2019 and $904 CAD in 2019–2020.

That changed briefly after the couple stepped away from royal duties in early 2020. Harry and Meghan moved to Vancouver before secretly relocating to California. Harry later described their flight from Canada to the United States as their “freedom flight.”

The figures have sparked wider debate in Canada about whether taxpayers should cover security costs for wealthy public figures, especially when their visits involve personal or commercial activities.

Canadian security expert Phil Gurski argued that celebrities and public figures should contribute more toward their own protection when visiting the country.

“Why are we paying for the privilege of them coming here to make money from Canadians?”

Gurski’s comments reflect a broader discussion about the responsibility of internationally famous individuals who require government protection.

While Harry’s security costs were the highest among VIP visitors during the five-year period, other major figures also required significant resources. Security for Barack and Michelle Obama cost $295,411 CAD, while Bill and Hillary Clinton’s protection cost $143,927 CAD. Former President Donald Trump and his family also generated security expenses during multiple visits.

The release of these records adds another layer to the ongoing public debate surrounding Harry and Meghan. Their journey has often focused on privacy, independence, and control over their own lives, but these documents highlight a different question — the financial responsibility that comes with being one of the world’s most recognizable couples.

For critics, the figures represent another example of the costs surrounding the Sussexes’ choices. For supporters, they reflect the reality of protecting a high-profile royal family member whose public status remained significant even during private moments.

Either way, the $539,000 security bill has reopened a conversation that continues to follow Harry and Meghan wherever they go: how much should the public be expected to pay for the protection of people who have chosen a different path away from royal life?