With the Duke and Duchess of Sussex seemingly taking on more and more international trips that are reminiscent of official royal tours, Mirror readers have delivered their verdict on the couple’s work across the globe
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle travelled to Australia for the first time since 2018(Image: AP)
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have recently returned back to their home in California after completing a whirlwind trip to Australia, in which they attended charity engagements in Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra over just a few days.
And while some royal commentators dubbed the trip an overall success, questions have again been raised over whether the Duke and Duchess of Sussex should be carrying out these faux-royal tours, which have all the hallmarks of official royal visits. Harry and Meghan quit their royal roles in 2020, meaning their recent trips abroad for charity work are not in any royal capacity.
READ MORE: Meghan Markle was ‘ball of nerves’ and Prince Harry ‘showed signs of stress’ in AustraliaREAD MORE: King Charles ‘dreading’ Trump trip amid huge pressure – ‘He hasn’t done this before’
Harry and Meghan spent four days in Australia last week (Image: Getty)
The trip to Australia is the second overseas trip from the Sussexes this year, as they travelled to Jordan in February for two days of charitable engagements, with the trips prompting many to question the nature of the international visits.
Earlier this month, we asked Mirror readers if Harry and Meghan should carry out these faux-royal tours, with over 19,000 people weighing in with their verdict.
Readers were steadfast with their decision, with an overwhelming majority of people agreeing that the Sussexes should not be carrying out such trips. 93 percent, or 17,754 readers, believe Harry and Meghan should stop undertaking overseas visits, while just 7 percent, or 1,332 readers, have no problem with the Sussex’s international trips.
93 percent of Mirror readers believe the Sussexes should not carry out faux royal tours(Image: POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Royal expert Jennie Bond also weighed in on the argument, as she questioned why some were branding the Australia trip as a ‘faux royal tour’ in the first place. She told the Mirror : “Harry and Meghan have never called it that. They are not doing any walkabouts or, as far as we know, having high-level discussions with dignitaries or politicians.
“They are there to promote themselves – evidently – but also to do some charitable work along the way. This kind of visit is precisely what Harry and Meghan wanted to do at the start of the whole sorry story that led them stepping down as working Royals.
“They wanted to combine earning a living with some charitable work. So, here they are doing exactly that. What’s the problem?”
Jennie Bond questioned why their trip was dubbed a pseudo-royal tour(Image: JOEL CARRETT/EPA/Shutterstock)
Some Australians agreed with the majority of Mirror readers and were critical of the visit. Following Harry and Meghan’s arrival last week, Aussies in Sydney told BBC the couple are ‘boring’, with one resident adding: “I don’t know why they’re coming”. Another Sydney resident said: “They are very much about self promotion, they’d probably be my least favourite royals, put it that way.”
Sources close to the Sussexes insisted the trip was “rooted in long-standing areas of work for the Duke and Duchess, with a clear focus on amplifying organisations delivering measurable impact.” They added: “The visit prioritises listening, learning and supporting communities rather than promotion.”
During Harry and Meghan’s trip to Australia, the couple undertook several charity engagements, public-facing visits, and private commercial appearances. While the Sussexes were in Jordan earlier this year at the invitation of the World Health Organisation’s director-general, they also spent their two-day trip meeting with various charities.
Harry and Meghan met with several charities during their trip Down Under(Image: POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
While some were highly critical of Harry and Meghan’s visit Down Under, Jennie Bond believes that the narrative around the Sussex’s international philanthropic work may be shifting, with the trip being dubbed a success.
“I’m sure they were perfectly aware that they would be criticised from various quarters for their trip to Australia,” Jennie told the Mirror. “And, predictably, there have been some disparaging headlines. But, as the visit has progressed, the tone is changing.
“Some are now talking about the very warm reception that the couple have been given, and how Harry and Meghan have perhaps proved that they can indeed do what they always wanted: combine good works with earning a living. So I think they might be quietly chuffed.”
Get the inside scoop on the monarchy with Mirror Royal
WHATSAPP GROUP: Be first to get the biggest royal bombshells and exclusives to your phone by joining our Royal WhatsApp here.
We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
NEWSLETTER: Or sign up to the Mirror’s Royal newsletter here to get all the biggest royal news and exclusive pictures, straight to your inbox.