The Duke And Duchess Of Sussex
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s upcoming trip to Australia is generating significant attention – despite being several weeks away.
The couple is scheduled to visit Down Under in mid-April for a series of commercial and charitable engagements across Sydney and Melbourne. A key highlight for Meghan will be her participation in a women-only gathering.
As Australians anticipate their arrival, a petition has garnered nearly 40,000 signatures, calling for no public funds to be allocated toward security or logistics for the visit. Entry to the mental health summit begins at £1,054 ($1,404.51) with ticket revenue benefiting the charity Lifeline.
A spokesperson for the Sussexes has dismissed the petition as a “moot point” clarifying that the trip is being privately financed.
Former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond told The Mirror, “Harry and Meghan must be annoyed about the Australian petition if, as their spokesperson has said, their trip is being privately funded. If so, it makes the petition pointless – but it has achieved one thing: to sour the atmosphere before the couple arrive.”
Meghan Markle is scheduled to visit Australia in mid-April (Image: Getty)
The development comes as insiders close to the pair have also pushed back against what they describe as ‘misinformation’ surrounding the visit. One source said, “The truth is you have a couple heading down under for work. While they’re in town, they’re going to check in on some charitable causes that they have long supported and – in the Duke’s case with the Invictus Games – he set up.”
They continued, “The couple are critically aware that by just visiting a charity, they can help shine a light on its work – bringing media attention that wouldn’t otherwise exist. They don’t have to do that; they could just as easily get paid and head straight back to California.”
Jennie further commented, “As far as I can make out, this is primarily a business trip designed to lay the foundations for a global expansion of Meghan’s As Ever brand. With her luxury women’s retreat weekend, and the opportunity to buy a chance to be photographed with her at a glittering gala, Meghan is behaving as the businesswoman she wants to be. There’s nothing wrong with that.
Prince Harry and Meghan have been met with backlash over their upcoming visit (Image: PA)
She continued, “But there’s certainly nothing royal about such a commercial enterprise. And it underlines the point made in the petition that at a time when Australians are facing significant cost of living pressures, there should be no special treatment for high-profile individuals.”
During the event, Meghan will be interviewed on stage, priced at 2,699 Australian dollars ($1,857.99) per person, where guests can purchase additional access to a group photograph with the Duchess.
Meanwhile, Harry will address attendees at the InterEdge Summit in Melbourne, which is billed as a “professional development summit designed to equip leaders, practitioners, and changemakers with the knowledge and tools to create mentally healthy, safe, and high-performing workplaces.”
Prince Harry will address attendees at the InterEdge Summit in Melbourne (Image: Anadolu via Getty Images)
Protection arrangements have also remained a contentious matter for the Sussexes since stepping back from their royal duties. The Duke of Sussex lost his automatic police protection in Britain when he and his wife Meghan departed the country after resigning as working royals.
Following an extended legal dispute, which he lost, it came to light that he contacted Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood soon after her appointment and filed a formal request for a risk assessment to the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (Ravec).
This evaluation is believed to be underway, with Harry having previously stated his security circumstances in the UK made it “impossible” for him to safely bring Meghan and their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, back to his home country.
Jennie explained, “I think security is still a top priority for Harry and Meghan- and even more so as the Invictus Games in Birmingham and the associated events draw closer. Like the rest of us, they must be wondering why a decision is taking so long.
She continued, “Harry has said that the security issue has been the main stumbling block in his ruptured relationship with his father and other members of his family. A decision in his favour could help mend at least one aspect of the rift.”
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