British Columbia bill for 2016 Royal Visit totals $613k

A picture may be worth a thousand words. And thousands of pictures of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and their childrenenjoying British Columbia cost tax payers $613,363.93.

The province today released the final costs for the Royal Tour 2016.

Through a cost sharing agreement with the Government of Canada, B.C. has picked up part of the costs associated withsite assessments at each location as well as media transportation, accommodation, and tours.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were based in Victoria during their eight-day Canadian tour from Sept. 24 to Oct. 1, 2016 that included stops in Vancouver, Kelowna, Bella Bella, Haida Gwaii and a trip to the Yukon.

The expenses not only included the royal visit, but a dry run for royal, provincial and federal staff along with a media site trip.

B.C. Premier Christy Clark accompanied the royal couple on all of their public appearances, except for the day trip to HaidaGwaii. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau joined the royals for the first two days of tour.

Staff travel and administrative services

The largest part of the government of B.C.`s bill includes $102,260.18 for administrative services and supplies. Hospitality ($53,224.57), media operations and services ($46,134.41) and travel for B.C. government officials and staff($74,186.26) made up a bulk of that bill.

As for the royal family'saccommodationat Government House in Victoriathat cost $41,798.65, with an additional $3,344.76 for protocol gifts.

British Columbia also picked up the $45,205.64 tab for the royal family flying to and from Canada from the United Kingdom, along with the costs of travel while in British Columbia. This part of the bill also includes the travel costs associated with royal staff.

Heritage Canadahas not yet provided their share of the bill but will make itpubliclyavailable once the finaltotalis tabulated.

Numbers provided by the provincial government state 435 media personelwere accredited for theroyal tour and the visit reached almost 106 million people around the world through different forms of media.

RCMP bill about $2 M

The RCMP says it spent about $2 million on policing costs during last year's eight-day visit to British Columbia and Yukon by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and their two young children.

The total bill was released following a federal Access to Information request. But the total could still change if additional expenditures are added later this year, the documents say.

The records show the largest expenses were connected to pay, overtime and travel costs, which totaled about $1.9 million.

A separate bill for other security services came to $196,129.03.