The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are set to return to Australia in mid-April for a trip covering private, business and philanthropic commitments, with Sydney and Melbourne expected to be on the itinerary. However, seven years after their last visit, the couple have been warned that the welcome may be far from warm.
Journalist Tom Sykes, writing on his The Royalist substack, said Harry and Meghan would need thick skins, as they are no longer assured of a warm welcome. He warned that their arrival would fuel Australia's ongoing debate about the monarchy, with the couple likely to become lightning rods in discussions about the royal family and the country's constitutional future.
A royal insider suggested hostility would come from both monarchists and republicans, noting that any royal visit, even by members who no longer represent the King, inevitably sparks debate. The source added that the trip would raise questions about why other royals, particularly the Prince and Princess of Wales, had not visited more frequently.
The visit comes at an awkward time for the King and the Prince of Wales. Anthony Albanese extended a personal invitation to William and Catherine over tea with Charles at Balmoral last September, but those plans have stalled. The Sussexes have now beaten them to it.
During their 2018 tour, the couple received a rapturous reception, with Meghan's informal approach winning over the public. Harry later described the trip as a turning point, saying it was the first time his family saw how incredible she was at the job. However, author Valentine Low's book Courtiers painted a more complicated picture, claiming Meghan failed to understand the point of walkabouts and shaking hands with strangers. Meghan has consistently denied bullying claims from palace staff.
It remains unclear whether Archie, six, and Lilibet, four, will accompany their parents or stay in Montecito. The couple's last appearance together on British soil, at a service for the late Queen in 2022, was met with boos.
