Royal author Phil Dampier warned the public will be “angry” at having to foot the huge sum, which is estimated to be up to £20 million a year. And the TaxPayers’ Alliance said Meghan and Harry “can’t have it both ways”.

It comes after Canada said it will stop providing protection for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex when they quit the monarchy on March 31.

The Taxpayers’ Alliance said: “The Duke and Duchess of Sussex can’t have it both ways: either they’re working royals with the obligations which that entails, or they’re private citizens seeking independence.”

And Mr Dampier told MailOnline: “It was only a matter of time before the Canadians stopped paying for their security because they’re no longer working royals and now obviously the burden will fall on British taxpayers.

“The public will be angry at having to pay for this when they’re not spending time in the UK or contributing to the Royal Family.

“The costs will become unsustainable – they will soon have to start paying for themselves.”

Meanwhile, former Home Office minister Norman Baker has called for the Met Police to cap the annual expenditure on security for Harry and Meghan to its 2019 level, with any extra costs met by the couple or the Queen and Prince Charles.

The ex-Lib Dem MP said: “For the Met to have to provide full security abroad will significantly impact on their ability to look after London and Londoners.

“Do we want the Met’s budget devoted to tackling terrorism, knife crime, assaults and burglary in the capital, or do we want them flying around the US and Canada, accompanying Harry and Meghan as they enrich themselves through their commercial activities?”

Speculation has been rife over who will pay Meghan and Harry’s security costs amid their decision to stand down as working royals.

From the end of next month, the Sussexes will stop representing the Queen, become financially independent and drop their HRH titles as they forge a new life in North America.

They have spent much of the past three months living in Canada with their son Archie.

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But in a statement released on Thursday, Canada’s Office of the Minister of Public Safety said it will stop providing protection to Meghan and Harry when they leave the Royal Family.

The statement said: “The Duke and Duchess of Sussex choosing to relocate to Canada on a part-time basis presented our government with a unique and unprecedented set of circumstances.

“The RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police) has been engaged with officials in the UK from the very beginning regarding security considerations.

“As the Duke and Duchess are currently recognised as Internationally Protected Persons, Canada has an obligation to provide security assistance on an as-needed basis.

“At the request of the Metropolitan Police, the RCMP has been providing assistance to the Met since the arrival of the Duke and Duchess to Canada intermittently since November 2019.

“The assistance will cease in the coming weeks, in keeping with their change in status.”

Buckingham Palace and Scotland Yard declined to comment on the development.

Meghan and Harry insisted they require security in an update on their Sussex Royal website last week.

The update said: “It is agreed that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will continue to require effective security to protect them and their son.

“This is based on the Duke’s public profile by virtue of being born into the royal family, his military service, the duchess’ own independent profile, and the shared threat and risk level documented specifically over the last few years.

“No further details can be shared as this is classified information for safety reasons.”

Meghan and Harry plunged the monarchy into crisis last month when they revealed bombshell plans to step back as senior royals.

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