Meghan Markle and Prince Harry left basically everyone stunned when they announced they were "stepping back" from their role as senior members of the royal family.

And by everyone, I mean everyone. Apparently, they hadn't even told the Queen, Prince Charles and Prince William before confirming the news - with members of the royal family said to have found out via the news. The Sussexes said in a statement on Wednesday [January 8] that they had made the decision "after many months of reflection and internal discussions" - and that while they would be "continuing to fully support Her Majesty The Queen", they'd also be splitting their time between North America and the UK. Given their recent holiday in the Great White North - and the fact that their first royal appearance since then was to Canada House to thank the staff for the "warm" hospitality they had received during the trip - it's more than likely that the Sussexes have their sights set on Canada as their North American base. Meghan lived there for six years while she was filming the legal drama Suits,  and has previously described it as her "second home." It's where they spent a lot of the early days of their relationship and, ultimately, where they made their first public appearance in 2017 at the Invictus Games. The couple would have a strong support network nearby, including Meghan's good friend Jessica Mulroney. The pair are thought to have become friends in 2011, when Meghan relocated to Canada for her part in Suits - and the stylist reportedly played a big part in her 2018 wedding to Prince Harry: helping her find the Givenchy gown that she wore on the day. And even from the initial reaction to the Sussexes’ statement, it looks like Canadians are very much on board with the idea. The news of the couple’s plans to split their time between North America and the UK was met with - for the most part - general excitement by Canadians, who have been flocking to Twitter to welcome the Sussexes with open arms. The weddings of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle and Prince William and Kate Middleton sparked watching parties across the country, with devoted fans of the royal family waking in the early hours of the morning (or even in the middle of the night, depending on the timezone), to see the couples tie the knot. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s visits to Canada, and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s appearances in the country, have been met with warmth, enthusiasm and have seen people turn out in droves to see them. But, for the most part, Meghan and Harry moving to Canada would make sure they were able to get the step away from the press that their statement seems to hint at them craving. There's a few Canadian cities - Toronto, Montréal, Vancouver - that the Sussexes could use as their North American base that serve as entertainment hubs. Which, beyond being good for Meghan if she decides she wants to get back into the entertainment industry, also mean that the press has become accustomed to seeing those familiar famous faces out and about. Yes, Meghan, Harry and Archie moving to Canada would be news - but probably not for very long. At least, not when the next big blockbuster starts filming (in which case, the Sussexes would be left alone). The couple have a habit of being low-key when in Canada - from the start of their relationship to their recent six week break over Christmas - and the media have, so far, respected that. And given the fact that they were gushing over their festive trip to Greater Victoria earlier this week, it looks like the Sussexes have a lot of love, too, for the Great White North.