The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will be heading to Australia in the coming weeks for a pseudo-royal tour filled with business opportunities, but one royal expert believes the visit may raise eyebrows in royal circles
Harry and Meghan are just weeks away from their pseudo-royal trip to Australia(Image: PA)
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have announced that they will be heading to Australia in just a few weeks for a series of engagements, marking the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s first trip Down Under in over seven years.
While their complete itinerary has yet to be confirmed, a spokesperson for the couple confirmed they would be spending time in Sydney and Melbourne in mid-April, with both Harry and Meghan completing high-profile solo engagements during their time in Australia. Harry will be delivering an address about mental health, while Meghan will be the VIP guest at a weekend ‘girl’s retreat’ in Sydney.
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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will travel to Australia in mid-April(Image: Getty Images)
And while the Sussex’s trip to Australia is not an official royal visit, as they left their royal roles behind in 2020 to carve out a new life for themselves in California, former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond believes the couple could lean on their royal connections to make a splash on Aussie shores.
Jennie told the Mirror that the Palace could be questioning the timing of their trip, given their own major engagements could clash. She said: “I suppose the King and his family might wonder why Harry and Meghan have chosen to announce their visit to Australia with quite such a flourish.
“And there does seem to be some danger that it might clash with events to mark what would have been the 100th birthday of the late Queen.”
Jennie added that this trip seems to be the perfect combination of supporting charities while not being tied to the Royal Family that the Sussexes were seeking when they quit their royal duties six years ago.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex last travelled Down Under in 2018
“The visit is being touted as a combination of private, business and philanthropic activities,” she said. “And that’s pretty much what the couple wanted when they were trying to negotiate a new way forward as working royals. It’s not yet clear how many of their planned events are money making ventures or fundraising for charities.”
“We do know that Harry’s keynote address on workplace mental health is a cause very close to his heart. Tickets are certainly expensive, starting at about £1,000, but apparently proceeds are going towards crisis support and suicide prevention — both very noble causes.
“Meghan‘s main event is much more starry and all about women’s empowerment. Once again tickets for the weekend and glitzy gala dinner (with a chance of a photo with Meghan if you pay enough) are hugely expensive.”
Meghan’s ‘girl’s weekend’ retreat has drawn much attention since she was announced as the VIP guest, with many shocked that tickets start at an eye-watering £1,439. This price covers attendees’ accommodation at a beach-side Sydney hotel and access to three days of events, including a gala dinner, yoga and meditation sessions, and a disco celebration.
Their trip will involve a series of philanthropic engagements and business opportunities(Image: John Angelillo/UPI/Shutterstock)
Jennie believes that Meghan has a lot to gain from this luxury event, and has strategically tied her royal title to the event to get the most out of the rare business opportunity for her growing lifestyle brand.
“It would be interesting to know how much money the couple are hoping to make out of this trip,” Jennie said. “And I’m sure questions are going to be asked about Meghan advertising herself as Duchess of Sussex. That is, of course, her title – but things become a little murky if she chooses to use it for commercial activities.
“However, they are free to do as they please. They clearly don’t want to settle for a quiet life out of the public gaze in California. They want to use their profile to publicise causes they care about, and to make money. And that’s exactly why they stepped back from their official roles, so I hope this trip is a success for them.”
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