Harry and Meghan’s mid-April visit to Sydney and Melbourne is shaping up as a logistical headache, with no-one prepared to say who will be responsible for protecting the couple – or who will pay for it.
Federal and state governments have declined to confirm who, if anyone, will be providing protection for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex during their private Sydney and Melbourne engagements from April 15 to 19.
Several agencies have distanced themselves from the trip, with departments effectively saying either nothing at all or simply: ‘No, not us.’
What is expected to be a significant security bill, potentially including police escorts, has emerged as one of the unresolved issues surrounding the couple’s schedule.
Both the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet and the Department of Home Affairs told the Daily Mail they have no involvement in Harry and Meghan’s visit.
The Australian Federal Police said it ‘does not comment on protection arrangements’.
No federal or state authority has announced any plan for taxpayer funding, official reception, or ceremonial participation.
Event organisers, not government bodies, are handling logistics, accommodation and appearance fees.
The forthcoming Australian tour of Meghan and Harry will be vastly different to the state-funded tour in 2018 (pictured, the couple in Sydney) when they were still working royals
What will likely be a massive security bill including police escorts for the mid-April visit by Harry and Meghan Markle (above, in promotion for her weekend retreat) couple is shaping up as one of the flashpoints of the Sussex’s April visit
At this stage, the tour is structured as a private commercial trip rather than an official Royal engagement.
Harry is confirmed to speak at the InterEdge Psychosocial Safety Summit in Melbourne, where he will be paid a mid-five figure fee.
His travel and accommodation are being covered by the summit’s organisers.
Meghan’s Sydney appearance — a luxury ‘Her Best Life’ retreat — is also privately funded, with the hosting company reportedly providing on-site security as part of her contract.
Guests are paying around $3,000 each depending on access level.
While organisers appear responsible for security at each venue, they have not clarified who covers the costs between events or for any public walkabouts, which would require crowd management and safety measures.
A change.org petition over the funding of Harry & Meghan’s Australian tour has so far attracted 30,000 signatures.
Entitled ‘No Taxpayer-Funding or Official Support for Harry & Meghan’s Private Visit to Australia!’ it features a photo of the couple stamped with the words ‘We Don’t Want You Here’.
Harry and his wife Meghan arrive at Dubbo airport in October 2018. Their exit from the Royal Family came in early 2020
Harry and Meghan in Sydney on their official Royal tour in 2018. It is unclear whether the couple will do any public walkabouts on April’s private tour and who would fund their security
The petition says: ‘As this is a private visit, Australian taxpayers must not fund security, logistics or government coordination.
‘At a time when Australians are facing significant cost-of-living pressures, including rising grocery bills, fuel prices, mortgage stress driven by interest rate hikes, and increasing energy costs, public resources must be used responsibly and applied fairly, without special treatment for high-profile individuals.’
Since stepping down as working royals in 2020, Harry and Meghan no longer receive publicly funded UK police protection and instead rely on private security.
Harry later claimed their security and financial support were cut off, forcing him to rely on his inheritance from Princess Diana.
After relocating to California, the couple hired private protection for both themselves and their Montecito home.
Harry has since pursued a long-running legal challenge in the UK, attempting to reinstate state-funded protection.
He lost the case in May 2025, when a court ruled his objections to the decision by the Royal and VIP Executive Committee (RAVEC) were ‘superficial’.
RAVEC now handles his security on a case‑by‑case basis owing to his limited time spent in Britain.
A change.org petition ‘No Taxpayer-Funding or Official Support for Harry & Meghan’s Private Visit to Australia!’ has so far attracted 30,000 signatures
Moments after the awkward tug-pull on the winner’s trophy at the 2024 Royal Salute Polo Challenge between Meghan and Sentebale chair Dr Sophie Chandauka (second right)
For overseas visits, the responsibility falls to host countries, but only when the trip is classified as official.
Because the Australian visit is strictly private, government‑funded protection does not automatically apply.
With multiple private events run by different organisers, no government involvement, and a history of disputes over security, it’s likely taxpayers will still foot at least part of the bill, as well as anyone paying to attend the events where they appear.
But adding another complication is the company staging Meghan’s Sydney retreat.
The Gemmie Agency, run by promoter Gemma O’Neill, collapsed last year owing more than $540,000 to the Australian Tax Office.
In February, O’Neill told liquidators she could not make repayment contributions due to limited income and no available savings.
It now remains to be seen if the Sydney retreat will still go ahead – and if there will be sufficient cash to cover any security costs.