Royals

The Sussexes have responded to President Trump’s refusal to foot the bill for their security

It comes after it was revealed Harry and Meghan have relocated to Los Angeles.
Loading the player...

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will be stepping back from their roles as working royals tomorrow, kicking off their new chapter on Meghan’s home soil.

While the move from Canada to Meghan’s hometown of Los Angeles makes a lot of sense – the couple’s team of agents and PRs are based there as well as her friends and family – not everyone is thrilled about the news.

Infamous for his hot takes on well, just about everything, US President Donald Trump has taken to Twitter to voice his opinion on the royal family-of-three’s move to the City of Angels tweeting: “I am a great friend and admirer of the Queen & the United Kingdom.

“It was reported 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.”

Adding, “They must pay!”

Many people hit back at the President saying there were much more important things to be worrying about, namely the Covid-19 pandemic which has seen much of the world go into lockdown to try and curb the spread of the deadly virus.

Either way, Meghan and Harry were keen to clear the air immediately, with a Sussex representative issuing a statement shortly after Trump’s tweet telling royal correspondent Omid Scobie: “The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have no plans to ask the U.S. government for security resources.

“Privately funded security arrangements have been made.”

Harry and Meghan have swiftly responded to Trump’s Twitter rant. (Images: Getty)

Last week it was reported the Sussexes have settled in Los Angeles, making the move from Vancouver Island just before the borders between Canada and the US were shut due to the current pandemic.

According to a royal source who spoke to The Sun at the time, the couple had planned to move for some time as “they realised Canada would not work out for various reasons and they want to be based in the Los Angeles area.

“They have a big support network here. It’s where their new team of Hollywood agents and PRs and business managers are based.”

A royal source says Harry and Meghan’s move to LA had always been planned, but the current pandemic brought their plans forward. (Image: Getty)

The news also comes as it’s been reported Meghan and Harry have hired a former staffer of Bill and Melanie Gates as their Chief of Staff and Executive Director for their new non-profit organisation.

Catherine St-Laurent had worked as part of the Gates Foundation and Melanie’s Pivotal Ventures for the last nine years, sharing the news to her colleagues on her final week that she would be joining Meghan and Harry.

“They are embarking on a new chapter themselves and I am thrilled to be able to play a supporting role in realising their vision and enabling them to achieve impact on the issues that matter most to them,” she wrote to her colleagues in an email obtained by People.

The couple is set to announce more details about their non-profit organisation after their official departure from royal life from April 1, with a statement on their website explaining the charitable organisation will follow similar themes to the work they championed as working royals which includes, “Commonwealth, community, youth empowerment and mental health.”

Related stories