Expert Warns Harry and Meghan Will Need ‘Thick Skins’ for Next Trip Where They’re Not Welcome
Royal expert Tom Sykes suggests that the Sussexes' upcoming Australia tour may spark a political debate about the monarchy's future.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle recently announced their plans to visit Australia in mid-April 2026 for a series of business and philanthropic engagements. The trip will mark their first return to the country in seven years after their successful 2018 tour as working royals. While that visit was widely celebrated, royal expert Tom Sykes believes the public sentiment this year could be different. He also warned that the couple may need to brace themselves for some political upheaval and a potentially hostile crowd.
In an article on his Substack, Sykes mentioned a 2022 poll in the country, which clearly highlighted the couple's dwindling public support. Explaining how their visit could create a political upheaval for the monarchy, he penned, "Although there has been no major nationwide survey focused solely on Harry and Meghan's standing in Australia in the past year, broader polling shows Australians are split over the monarchy and the role of King Charles III as the country's head of state." He added, "Surveys since the King's accession have alternated between a narrow lead for a republic and periods of renewed support for retaining the monarchy, underscoring how contentious the issue remains."
Amid these developments, the royal expert cautioned that Harry and Markle would likely become the 'lightning rods' in Australia's ongoing debate about the royal family and the country's future under them. He continued, "For now, one thing seems certain: Harry and Meghan will need thick skins when they arrive in a country where they are no longer assured of a warm welcome." He also stressed that Markle's pregnancy announcement during their 2018 tour "added to the sense of excitement around a pair once seen as bringing modernizing energy to the monarchy."
In a similar vein, a source told the Daily Mail how Harry and Markle's Australia visit may create some political friction, leading to a deplorable turnout. They explained, "I think there will be plenty of monarchists and republicans who won't welcome Harry and Meghan's visit. Any 'royal' visit, even by members of the family who no longer represent the King, will inevitably create debate about the monarchy." Noting that the trip would also put the spotlight on Prince William and Kate Middleton, they stressed that it could prompt questions about why the other royals have not visited Australia, potentially drawing scrutiny toward the couple's work ethic.
Against that backdrop, the source revealed that in September, when Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had tea with the King, he proudly invited the Prince and Princess of Wales to his country. They continued, "There have been rumors of a visit in July or August, but it's not looking likely at the moment. Either way, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are going to get there first," hinting that it would make the royal family unhappy. Previously, Harry had gushed that their 2018 Australia tour 'really changed' how his family viewed his wife, claiming Markle showed them how 'effortlessly' she took to royal duties.
