The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are preparing for a visit to Australia in mid-April, their first in over seven years, with a series of philanthropic and business engagements planned in Sydney and Melbourne. The couple announced the trip earlier this month, and while it is not an official royal visit, it has already drawn criticism from royal author Tom Bower.
Mr Bower, whose book on the Sussexes is titled 'Betrayal: Power, Deceit and the Fight for the Future of the Royal Family', told The Daily Telegraph that the Duchess is breaking a promise she made to the late Queen Elizabeth. He said: 'First of all Meghan is doing it for money, it's rather grubby … she's monetising her royalty which I think is pretty shabby because she promised the Queen she wouldn't do that.' He added that the trip is 'clearly to make money to raise their profile'.
During the visit, Meghan will be the guest of honour at a 'girls weekend' retreat in Sydney, where she will speak at a grand dinner and other events. VIP ticket holders can also have a picture taken with the Duchess. Tickets for the three-day event start at £1,439, which includes accommodation at a beachside hotel, gala dinner, yoga and meditation, and a disco celebration.
Prince Harry is scheduled to speak at the InterEdge Summit in Melbourne, a professional development event focused on mental health in the workplace. Tickets for that event start at £1,054, with proceeds going to Lifeline. A spokesperson for the couple said they will take part in 'a number of private, business and philanthropic engagements', though the full itinerary has not yet been confirmed.
According to The Times, Meghan has also trademarked her lifestyle brand As Ever with the Australian government's intellectual property office, covering categories including cosmetics, fragrances, seasonings, and beverages. The trademark was approved last year, and As Ever is currently only available in the United States, though Meghan has hinted at global expansion.
PR expert Dermot McNamara told New Magazine that the trip represents a 'last chance' for the Sussexes to define their careers. He said: 'It's a last chance for them to establish where they fit and where they want to go. Harry, in particular, probably feels he should get back out there and they know Australia is a place that loves them dearly, especially when compared to the UK.'
