The Duke and Duchess of Sussexare facing a backlash in Canada as taxpayers there face the prospect of paying millions of pounds to provide security for the couple.

Campaigners said there must be "no blank cheque" for members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police to protect the two royals, and called on the couple to pay the cost themselves.

Mounties were previously stationed outside the future Duchess's house in Toronto when she began dating the Duke in 2016.

They already protect the Governor General, the Queen's representative in Canada, and experts said they would be obliged to do the same for her grandson and his wife, even if the couple still had British royal protection officers with them.

Aaron Wudrick, director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, told the Sunday Telegraph: "I thought it was very interesting when they used the term 'financial independence'. The details remain to be seen. There's always going to be a cost [to the taxpayer] and the public deserves some prudence.

"I don't think it's reasonable to expect us to pay for everything the way we do for a royal visit. If they're going to make Canada a second home, a good step in the right direction would be to pay for at least part of it, and not rely on taxpayers to fund their entire lifestyle."

Asked whether they would provide protection to the couple, the Mounties sought to avoid controversy. In a statement to The Sunday Telegraph, they said: "The Royal Canadian Mounted Police cannot speculate on hypothetical situations."