The Canadian military spent approximately $125,000 to send soldiers to guard the entrance to Buckingham Palace for 10 days in July. Members of the Edmonton-based Lord Strathcona’s Horse regiment were sent to the British capital for the mission, which lasted from July 11 to 21. Using British horses, they served as the ceremonial King’s Life Guard at the Horse Guards building in London, which protects the entrances to Buckingham Palace, St. James’s Palace, Windsor Castle and the Tower of London. According to a Canadian Armed Forces spokesperson, the deployment is expected to cost about $125,000 in taxpayers’ money. “This cost includes expenses for flights, travel, meals or other costs related to ceremonial duty requirements for 28 members of the Canadian Armed Forces over a period of two weeks,” the spokesperson told CTVNews.ca. While in London, a British cavalry regiment provided support to their Canadian counterparts at no expense, including accommodation and the use of their horses. In July, Canada’s high commission in London described the deployment as “a proud moment of Canadian nationhood and sovereignty, and a great example of Canada’s enduring commitment to its allies.” This was only the third time that a foreign unit served as the King’s Life Guard. The other two deployments also involved Canadians, with the same regiment performing the role in 2000 and the RCMP doing so in 2012. Lord Strathcona’s Horse regiment was founded in 1900 to serve alongside British troops during the Boer War in South Africa. The Canadian regiment also saw combat during both world wars. “This was a great opportunity for our Mounted Cavalry,” the Canadian military spokesperson said. “As Lord Strathcona’s Horse (Royal Canadians) celebrated its 125th anniversary this year, the opportunity to serve in this capacity once again allowed the Regiment to showcase its proud history, traditions, and capabilities while performing ceremonial duties for its Colonel-in-Chief, His Majesty King Charles III.” King Charles authorized the regiment to perform guard duty. Charles, who is also the King of Canada, expressed his support for Canadian sovereignty during an official visit to Ottawa in May. “The crown has for so long been a symbol of unity for Canada,” the monarch said while delivering the throne speech to Parliament. “It also represents stability and continuity from the past to the present.” Duff Conacher is the co-founder of Democracy Watch, a non-profit that advocates for democratic reform and government accountability. “While it was a largely symbolic, short and relatively inexpensive tour of duty for Canadian soldiers serving Britain’s monarchy, surveys show that most Canadians want our government to take steps in the other direction to make our country fully independent from Britain,” Conacher told CTVNews.ca. Paul Thomas, a professor emeritus of political science at the University of Manitoba, says the $125,000 bill should not be a cause for public outrage. “In the context of the big picture of total Government of Canada spending of $450 billion, this is a tiny expenditure which supports our tradition as a constitutional monarchy, our connection with the Commonwealth and the morale of our military,” Thomas told CTVNews.ca. Nathan Tidridge, vice-president of the Institute for the Study of the Crown in Canada, says it is “entirely appropriate” for Canadian troops to guard their monarch in London. “Such a moment is a source of immense pride for the regimental family (raising morale), as well as highlights Canada’s rich military history and place in the world as a sovereign state,” Tidridge told CTVNews.ca via email. “Yes, ceremony costs money – but compare $125,000 to the costs incurred by other countries in an effort to highlight their militaries (think of U.S. President Trump’s parade in Washington last spring).” With files from The Canadian Press
