Canada-style has not got everyone’s vote
BEAMING Prince Harry was reunited with wife Meghan on their Canadian love island this week as the couple began to plot how to make their millions away from royal duties.
Watching the duke arrive on Vancouver Island barely 100 yards away from me, his relief after finally agreeing on a deal with his granny, was clear to see.
But no sooner had Harry got back in the routine of changing nappies, while battling to overcome transatlantic jet lag, the task of discussing their hard Megxit began.
Already the Sussexes are understood to be in talks with the elite Hollywood team Meghan had secretly retained throughout her time in the British royal family.
With the help of these powerful American-based agents, business managers and lawyers, the couple are now free to pursue a host of multi-million-dollar deals and found charities to support the causes close to their hearts.
The team has been brought together to help Harry and Meghan become “financially independent”, although they will still receive money from Prince Charles for the next 12 months.
While their former royal highnesses are now free to cash in on their royal status, the terms of separation from the monarchy were harsher than both Harry and Meghan had publicly lobbied for when they announced their intention to “step back” from life as senior royals.
The message from Her Majesty was clear: You’re in, or you’re out. There is no part-time work for royals. Harry and Meghan chose out.
But judging from their website and Instagram account, they are struggling to relinquish “His Royal Highness” and “Her Royal Highness” titles, despite the statement from the Queen that they will not use them.
Harry and Meghan clearly imagined a less thorough break from royal service.
The pair of them thought their bombshell announcement two weeks ago, about wanting to leave royal life, would be perfectly acceptable and agreed to.
After all, Meghan immediately returned to Canada – which she clearly always planned to do, because she left baby Archie there with a nanny and a close friend.
The North American country is, of course, the perfect home for Harry and Meghan.
It has a personality that exists somewhere between America and Britain, keeping both in touch with their respective home countries.
But, for as much as Canada is known for its mild manners, there is a simmering tension over just who now will foot the bill for our duke and duchess while they are there.
Canadians are starting to realise it is remarkably easy to become financially independent when other people pay your bills for such things as security.
The country’s biggest newspaper The Globe and Mail has been scathing in its assessment of Canada’s latest immigrants.
“The Canadian monarchy is virtual; it neither rules nor resides. Our royals don’t live here. They reign from a distance,” read the op-ed, before continuing, “to move to Canada while remaining part of the Royal Family, the ... government’s response should be simple and succinct: No.”
The UK government and the royal family need to be wary of treading on the sensibilities of Commonwealth realms like Canada and appreciate that their hospitality only goes so far.
With growing anger among their new neighbours, regarding the cost of looking after the couple, time may still prove there is no grass greener than the green, green grass of home.