Prince Harry and Meghan's Australian Tour: A Shift from Royal Pomp to Private Promotions
Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, are set to arrive in Sydney on Tuesday for a four-day visit to Australia, described by experts as a "faux royal" tour. This trip marks a stark departure from their 2018 Australian visit, which was filled with public engagements and royal ceremony. Instead, the 2024 itinerary focuses on private and promotional events, with no public walkabouts due to heightened security and cost considerations.
High-Price Events and Wellness Retreats
The tour includes several exclusive events with hefty price tags. Prince Harry will deliver a keynote speech at InterEdge's "psychosocial safety" summit in Sydney, a professional development conference. Tickets range from $498 for virtual access to $2,378.65 for a platinum experience, where he is expected to discuss workplace mental health issues.
Meanwhile, Meghan will headline the "Her Best Life" retreat in Sydney, a three-day wellness event billed as a "girls' weekend like no other." Attendance costs $2,699, including accommodation, or $3,199 for a VIP package that features a group photo opportunity with the Duchess. Additionally, Meghan will promote her lifestyle brand, As Ever, which offers products like jams, spice kits, and candles described as a "love language."
Contrast with the 2018 Royal Visit
In 2018, Harry and Meghan's Australian tour was a formal royal visit, greeted by enthusiastic crowds and meetings with then-Prime Minister Scott Morrison. They participated in public outings, lavish receptions, and received flowers from admirers. Royals researcher Giselle Bastin, an associate professor at Flinders University, notes that the couple then symbolized a "new beginning" for the Windsor family, with a glamorous appeal.
However, Bastin observes that since their departure from royal duties and public revelations about family rifts, including a 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey, the "celebrity shine has rather worn off." Harry himself highlighted in that interview how Meghan's charm during the 2018 tour impressed the royal family, comparing it to his parents' 1983 visit.
Charitable Engagements and Veteran Events
Despite the promotional focus, the tour includes charitable components. The couple will visit the Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne, while Meghan will tour a women's homeless service. Harry will also engage in veteran-related activities, such as attending an Invictus Australia event, visiting the Australian War Memorial, and participating in the Last Post ceremony on Anzac Day.
The tour is privately funded, though reports indicate that taxpayer-funded policing services will be provided to ensure public safety. Royal editor Russell Myers of the Daily Mirror has criticized the schedule as a "box-ticking tour," suggesting it lacks the substance of traditional royal visits.
Financial Motivations and Public Perception
Experts like Bastin argue that the tour serves as a revenue-generating opportunity for the couple, who face significant financial outlays. Since stepping back from royal duties, Harry and Meghan have secured deals including a $100 million Netflix contract, a $20 million Spotify podcast agreement, and a $20 million book deal for Harry's memoir, "Spare." They also receive funds from inheritances and private sources.
Bastin describes the tour as a way to "cosplay" as working royals, testing public reception in Australia. She notes that selling expensive wellness retreat tickets may seem "tin-eared" in the current economic climate, reflecting a disconnect with broader societal concerns.
Overall, this Australian visit underscores the Sussexes' transition from official royal representatives to private figures leveraging their celebrity for commercial and charitable pursuits, amid ongoing public and media scrutiny.
