Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will visit Australia in April for private and public engagements, with the Duchess attending a luxury weekend retreat in Sydney
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are travelling to Australia next month for a brief unofficial royal visit, where Meghan will be the star attraction at a ‘girls weekend’ retreat in Sydney.
The Duchess of Sussex will deliver speeches throughout the “weekend like no other,” including at a grand dinner, with VIP ticket purchasers also able to secure a photograph with the Duchess.
Supporters have been taken aback by the cost of attending the event, with tickets beginning at a staggering £1,439. This price includes participants’ accommodation at a beachside Sydney hotel and entry to three days of activities, including a gala dinner, yoga and meditation sessions, and a disco celebration.
Those wishing to get even closer to Meghan can buy the VIP experience tickets, which are being offered for £1,705 per person. Alongside the weekend’s activities, this ticket guarantees seating at a table in the front two rows for the gala dinner with Meghan, as well as a group table photograph with the Duchess of Sussex.
This means that for an additional £266 per person, devoted admirers of Meghan can get a group photograph with the Duchess during her rare Sydney visit.
A promotional message about the multi-day event states: “A girls’ weekend like no other! An unforgettable weekend for women ready to reconnect, recharge and have some serious fun. Join us for an intimate luxury weekend by the ocean designed to bring women together for powerful conversations, relaxation, laughter and unforgettable experience.”
The last time the Duchess of Sussex travelled to Australia, she reportedly complained that she wasn’t receiving payment for the walkabouts, according to claims in a royal book. Harry and Meghan were last down under in 2018, where they spent 16 days travelling around Australia, Fiji, Tonga, and New Zealand on their first royal tour as a married couple, reports the Mirror.
During the tour, huge crowds turned out to see them as they visited the countries and attended an impressive 76 engagements. A book written by former The Times’ royal correspondent Valentine Low claims that Meghan “enjoyed the attention” she received but did not understand the point of royal walkabouts.
Mr Low writes in Courtiers: The Hidden Power Behind the Crown that the Duchess of Sussex showed a “refreshingly informal approach to royal visits” which was “a hit with the Australian public”. However, despite being hailed as an “inspirational role model”, the royal expert revealed that it was a different story behind the scenes.
The book reads: “Although she enjoyed the attention, Meghan failed to understand the point of all those walkabouts, shaking hands with countless strangers.” Quoting unnamed members of staff, the book claims that Meghan was heard saying: “I can’t believe I’m not getting paid for this.”
Meghan isn’t the only one making appearances at high-profile events during their Australian tour, with Prince Harry also delivering a speech at the InterEdge Summit in Melbourne. This event is described 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.”
Tickets for this mental health summit begin at £1,054, with proceeds from ticket sales being donated to Lifeline. Earlier this week, it was confirmed that Harry and Meghan would be visiting Australia for the first time in over seven years, spending time in Sydney and Melbourne in mid-April.
A representative for the couple stated: “Prince Harry and Meghan, Duke and Duchess of Sussex, will visit Australia in mid-April to take part in a number of private, business and philanthropic engagements. Further details will be shared in due course.”
It is understood that their children, Archie and Lilibet, will not accompany them on this trip.






