Harry and Meghan's Australian Tour Excludes Public Walkabouts Amid Security Focus
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, are set to commence a significant tour of Australia tomorrow, with a notable absence of public walkabouts on their itinerary. This privately funded visit will see the couple travel to Melbourne, Canberra, and Sydney for a series of charitable and commercial engagements, marking their first trip to the country since their 2018 royal tour.
Tour Details and Engagement Focus
According to their office, the tour will focus on mental health, community resilience, and support for veterans and their families, alongside private meetings and special projects. The couple is not expected to bring their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, on this journey. Their engagements include visits to organisations serving young people and vulnerable women, a children's hospital in Melbourne, and community-led support centres for women experiencing homelessness.
In Canberra, Harry will attend events at the Australian War Memorial, including the Last Post Ceremony, emphasising their commitment to the veteran community through connections with the Australian National Veterans Art Museum and Invictus Australia. Additionally, they will engage with mental health organisations like Movember and Batyr, and in Sydney, join Invictus community members on Sydney Harbour and meet past competitors.
Security and Public Concerns
Sources indicate that the tour does not include any walkabouts to meet the public, with security and costs associated with maintaining public order being primary factors in the planning. This decision contrasts with their 2018 tour, where thousands gathered to see them, highlighting a shift in approach. The New South Wales Police Force has confirmed it will conduct an operation to ensure public safety during their stay, implementing additional security measures while minimising community disruption. Victoria Police has acknowledged the visit but declined to comment on specific arrangements.
A petition on Change.org, demanding no taxpayer funding for the private visit, has garnered over 45,000 signatures, reflecting public debate over the use of resources for such engagements.
Commercial Engagements and Event Highlights
Separate from their public-facing visits, Harry and Meghan will participate in private commercial engagements. Meghan will be interviewed on stage at a girls' weekend retreat in Sydney, with tickets costing up to £1,670 for VIP access including a photo opportunity. Meanwhile, Harry will speak at the InterEdge Summit in Melbourne, exploring leadership and psychosocial safety in the workplace, with delegate tickets ranging from £525 to £1,250.
The tour will conclude with a rugby fixture in Sydney between the New South Wales Waratahs and Moana Pasifika at Allianz Stadium on Friday, adding a sporting element to their itinerary.
Historical Context and Reflections
This visit follows their 2018 official royal tour to Australia, which occurred shortly after their wedding and during Meghan's pregnancy with Prince Archie. In his autobiography, Spare, Harry recalled how Meghan dazzled crowds on that tour, drawing comparisons to Diana, Princess of Wales, but also noted the subsequent negative press they faced upon returning home. The current tour, while more focused on specific causes, continues their advocacy for mental health and community support, as stated by their office: highlighting the duke and duchess's continued commitment to driving positive change through connection and shared experience.
As the King serves as Australia's head of state, this visit adds to recent royal engagements in the country, including King Charles and Queen Camilla's 2024 tour, which featured community events and walkabouts, underscoring different approaches to public interaction in modern royal visits.
