Harry and Meghan's security team staying in a $2100 Airbnb funded by taxpayers

While Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are staying in Canada, their security team has been posted up in a fancy Airbnb, according to reports.

The royal couple have been living in an eight-bedroom mansion on Vancouver Island, but rented out a nearby house for their security team. Located near a beach, with sea views, the Airbnb rent was £1,100 a week (about AUD $2,170) paid for by Canadian taxpayers, according to The Mail on Sunday.

A neighbour of the house reported there was a security team staying there, but they all left when Harry returned to the UK last week.

Up until recently, any time the Sussexes visited Canada or another Commonwealth country, the local government were obligated to contribute to the cost of security and protection for the couple. But since their January announcement that they are stepping down as senior royals, the Canadian government confirmed last week they would no longer foot the bill.

Before the announcement, a poll found only one in five Canadians believed that paying for the couple's security was an adequate use of state money. The Canadian Taxpayer Federation delivered an 80,000-signature petition to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau opposing it.

The UK is currently paying £600,000 (nearly AUD $1.2million) to fund their protection, which covers salary, flights, accommodation and allowance.

Sources have speculated that once Harry and Meghan make the permanent move to Canada with their nine-month-old son Archie, they'll need at least 12 security officers in their team. It's yet to be confirmed if the Sussexes' security detail will be funded by UK taxpayers or will be up to the couple to privately fund them, due their wish to be financially independent from the royal family.

Prince Harry is set to make his final military appearance as a senior royal next week.