Harry and Meghan in Bondi. Pic: Jordan Rajek for The Office of The Duke and Duchess of Sussex
It’s what Harry and Meghan wanted – to be half-in, half-out of the Royal Family, mixing public commitments with commercial ones. And it’s the reason they left in 2020, because the Queen very much said no. But this week, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex conducted a trip which looked to be a blueprint of their original plan, when they visited Australia and combined charity work with private ventures.
Meghan at the RCH in Melbourne. Pic: Jordan Rajek for The Office of The Duke and Duchess of Sussex
According to The Telegraph, it was a test, “a chance to see whether this version of royal life – the brand Sussex version – was sustainable.” The conclusion? It is. “We’ve tested the playbook, it worked,” a source told The Telegraph on Friday. “They’re doing the right thing. Whether you want to call it half-in, half-out or – as they would probably describe it – just doing what they want to do and doing it in a really positive way, this week has given us reassurance that it is the right course of action. This could absolutely act as a blueprint for the future.”
Harry and Meghan certainly seemed to get a good reception, as they toured Melbourne, Canberra and Sydney, from Tuesday to Friday. They were met by patients and staff at the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne and Meghan visited a women’s refuge. Harry spoke at the InterEdge Psychosocial Safety Summit, where he said, “There have been many times when I’ve felt overwhelmed. Times when I’ve felt lost, betrayed, or completely powerless.” At Melbourne’s Swinburne University of Technology, Meghan similarly admitted, “I was the most trolled person in the entire world.”
Harry and Meghan in Australia this week. Pics: Jordan Rajek for The Office of The Duke and Duchess of Sussex
The reception was positive – in Sydney, they were followed by a large crowd, when they visited Bondi Beach and spoke to survivors of the December massacre and fans lined the steps at the Opera House to see them board a boat for an Invictus event.
At the same time, they mixed commercial opportunities into the trip, such as Meghan launching her shoppable page on One Off, so you can buy all the outfits she wore, including at the hospital and Bondi. She joined the site as an investor and participant, along with other celebrities-turned-influencers, Kate Hudson and Paris Hilton.
She appeared on MasterChef Australia and participated in the Her Best Life weekend retreat in Coogee, Sydney, where women had paid around £1,600 to attend and see her at its opening night gala dinner. She left at 7pm to attend a rugby game with Harry. It was these commercial commitments which raised the ire of some Aussie punters, with Sky News dubbing the couple grifters.
With Gemma O’Neill at the Her Best Life event. Pic: Her Best Life
However, most Australians embraced the couple, even with their new commercial arrangement, senior Australian editors tell The Royal List. What outcry there had been before they arrived, melted away as people welcomed the couple, who had enjoyed a spectacular response on their first visit in 2018. “There was little sign of any animosity to them” says Mick Carroll, editor-in-chief of news.com.au. “At Bondi, the crowd was happy to cheer and wave for the photos, although most were already there for the beach.” And he says her attendance at the Her Best Life event was also received well. “The Besties themes of friendship, resilience and positive vibes is definitely a shared passion,” he says.
We’re excited about this new BBC documentary tonight, Queen Elizabeth II: Her Story, Our Century, ahead of what would have been her 100th birthday on Tuesday, “I think duty has overridden everything,” Camilla said of the late Queen. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen anybody have a sense of duty like she had.” The show is on BBC1 at 9pm.
Anne at Dartmouth. Pic: Royal Family Insta
The Princess Royal took a trip to a place that played a pivotal role in her parents’ love story, to the Britannia Royal Naval College in Dartmouth, Devon. It was back in 1939 that a young Princess Elizabeth fell for the dashing Prince Philip, when she visited the historic college with her family. This week, Anne was guest of honour, representing the King, as she took the salute during the passing-out parade of 155 newly-qualified junior officers. Anne has held the rank of Admiral in the Royal Navy since 2012.
Royal Collection Trust X Launer London Traviata bag, £3,445; Royal Collection Trust X Burberry corgi brooch, £395; Royal Collection Trust X Burberry Balmoral silk scarf, £375; Royal Collection Trust X Dents leather gloves, £95
OK, not her actual clothes, but her favourite designs. To celebrate the new exhibition Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style, the Royal Collection Trust has brought out a range of collabs with the Queen’s favourite brands – Burberry, Launer London, Kinloch Anderson, Corgi Socks, Dents, Floris and Fulton Umbrellas. So you can kit yourself out with her handbag, scarf, Burberry trench, gloves, even perfume. We picked a few of our favourites – how cute is this corgi brooch? And Kerry really fancies the Launer bag. To buy, visit royalcollectionshop.co.uk
The birthday boy. Pic: Josh Shinner/Prince and Princess of Wales Insta
Our favourite Prince of Smiles and Master of Mischief turns eight this Thursday, which is St George’s Day in England, so here’s wishing lovely Louis a fantastic birthday. Also, we can’t sign off this week’s newsletter without a very special Happy Heavenly Birthday to Queen Elizabeth II, who would have been turning 100 this Tuesday. We still miss you Ma’am!
Happy Birthday Ma’am! Pic: Prince and Princess of Wales Insta