A royal expert claims Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's relationship dynamic appeared noticeably different during their recent trips to Australia and the UK. The observation was made during a discussion about the Sussexes' changing public image on The Sun's Royal Exclusive podcast.
Australia and UK Trips
The couple travelled to Australia for four days in April, taking part in a series of engagements that would not have looked out of place on an official royal tour. Their schedule included events focused on Indigenous culture, Australian sport and charitable causes, as well as a visit to the national war memorial. However, Harry and Meghan were there privately rather than as working members of the Royal Family.
Royal reporter Bronte Coy said her impression of the couple had changed after seeing them in Australia. She said: "I made this point when I came back from Australia when I was there earlier this year, I found this really intriguing because I agree that everything I'd seen of them prior to that was the Meghan show."
Harry Leading the Charge
Bronte had previously viewed Meghan as the person who had largely shaped the couple's life after their decision to step back from royal duties. "I think in the US, certainly, when this Megxit happened, she's very much been sort of the architect of what their life was going to be," she added. But she claimed there was a different dynamic when she saw the couple in Australia and during their subsequent UK visit.
Harry had travelled back to Britain for a series of engagements involving causes and organisations close to him, including the Invictus Games, the sporting competition he founded. Meghan later travelled to the UK with their children, with the family understood to have visited King Charles at Highgrove in June.
Reflecting on what she had seen, Bronte said Harry appeared to have taken on a role she had not previously associated with him. "I was fascinated by the fact that when they arrived in Australia, and in this UK trip as well recently, it more felt like he was the one that was leading the charge, which surprised me." She suggested this could represent a change in Harry's approach as he has adjusted to life away from the monarchy. "So again, this may be a tonal shift over the years, you know, with him sort of figuring out what the rest of it was."
Expert Explanations
TalkTV host Samara Gill offered another explanation for why Harry appeared more assured during the trips. She pointed to his long experience of accompanying the Royal Family on overseas tours and suggested the environment was particularly familiar to him. "It was more of a royal tour as well, and that's what he's kind of been trained to do, like a sort of well-trained racehorse or something. He knows exactly how to do it. That's where he's in his element." Samara also argued that Meghan had historically appeared less comfortable during similar engagements. "She's absolutely not comfortable there and never was really, if you look at it."
Harry and Meghan's latest Australian visit contrasted sharply with their previous trip in 2018. At the time, they were still working royals and were greeted by huge crowds during their nine-day tour. Their latest visit, however, attracted a considerably quieter response. The BBC reported that many Australians were either unaware of the Sussexes' arrival or simply showed little interest in their visit. The couple also faced criticism over their public engagements after concerns were raised about Australian taxpayers potentially contributing towards the cost of their security.
Their UK trip, meanwhile, gave Harry's children the opportunity to reunite with their grandfather. Archie and Lilibet had not seen King Charles in person since the Platinum Jubilee in 2022.
