Aussie taxpayers to fund a few of Harry and Meghan’s tour – regardless of insistence it is going to be ‘privately-funded’

Australian taxpayers are due to foot the bill for police operations during the Duke and Duchess of Sussex‘s tour of the country next week.

The couple’s itinerary is understood to include stops in Melbourne, Canberra and Sydney, starting 

More than 35,000 people signed a petition in March demanding no taxpayers’ money be spent on their upcoming visit.

But a spokesman for the couple responded to the petition, insisting the trip would be privately funded and pinpointing how many Australians had not signed up.

He said: ‘It’s a moot point. The trip is being funded privately, so I’m not sure what this petition hopes to achieve.’

However, on Friday, police forces in Victoria and New South Wales confirmed they would be running public safety operations, which are paid for by the public.

‘The New South Wales Police Force will conduct an operation to ensure public safety is maintained during the visit by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex,’ a spokesperson told The Sydney Morning Herald.

‘The operation will require some additional security measures throughout their stay in New South Wales, while minimising any disruption to the community.’

Police services will be focused on the events in which the public may possibly be involved, which will be part of the force’s expenditure, the Herald reports.

More to come. 

Australian taxpayers are due to foot the bill for police operations during the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s tour of the country next week