Meghan Markle and Prince Harry announced on their Instagram page on Wednesday night that they will be stepping down as senior members of the Royal Family and plan to split their time between the UK and North America. The announcement prompted speculation the couple, alongside their eight-month-old son baby Archie, would take up residence in Canada, having just returned from a six-week break there. While the finite arrangements have not yet been made, a security expert has said Canadian taxpayers can expect to foot the Sussex’s security bill – even if they live in the country only part-time.

Larry Busch, an ex-Royal Canadian Mounted Police officer who has directed security for US presidents and royals, said the government would likely have a legal obligation to provide security – especially considering the Queen is Canada’s head of state.

He added that it was unlikely Meghan and Harry would refuse the official protection.

Mike Zimet, who runs a New York-based security firm that boasts a host of famous clients, including American senator Bernie Sanders and actors Lin-Manuel Miranda and Alex Baldwin, predicted the cost of the Sussex’s security could easily run into the millions per year.

He said: “If they want private protection, then a whole machine needs to be built around them.”

The security expert also warned the kidnap of baby Archie could be a major threat.

He said: “[It would be a]major situation, especially when it comes to terrorists.

“Kidnap a kid, hold them for ransom, what are the parents going to do?”

A third expert, Joe Balz, president of GloProSec Preventative Services, a Toronto-based security company, and an ex-RCMP officer who has worked with the Royal Family and other heads of state in the past, said the level of security the Sussex family need would have to defined by a threat assessment.

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On Wednesday, Meghan and Harry said they arrived at the decision to “step back” as senior royals “after many months of reflection and internal discussions”.

They said they plan to “carve out a progressive new role” within the Royal Family and hope to become “financially independent”.

But just how this will work in practice is yet to be decided and the issue of security costs may become a sticking point, as it currently costs the Home Office millions of pounds a year.

The Royal Family are said to be “disappointed” at the news, with Prince of Wales and Prince William currently helping the Queen find a workable solution and decide on how the couple will carve out their future roles within the Firm.

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A Buckingham Palace source has said royal staff are working “at pace” to find work to find workable solutions to the Sussex’s decision to step back from the front line.

The source said: “The Queen, the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Cambridge have directed their teams to work together at pace with government and The Sussex Household to find workable solutions.

“Expected to take days not weeks.”

The UK, US and Canadian governments are also said to be involved in the deliberations.

Meghan has since left the UK and returned to Canada, where baby Archie was staying with the family nanny, while Harry stays to finalise arrangements with The Queen, Prince Charles and Prince William.

A spokeswoman for the Duchess said: “I can confirm she is in Canada.”

Prince Harry is expected to fly back to join Meghan within a fortnight.

Meghan has since left the UK and returned to Canada, where baby Archie was staying with the family nanny, while Harry stays to finalise arrangements with The Queen, Prince Charles and Prince William.

A spokeswoman for the Duchess said: “I can confirm she is in Canada.”

Prince Harry is expected to fly back to join Meghan within a fortnight.

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