Meghan Markle ‘Can’t Wait’ For Australia Return — Host Shares Details from Their Zoom Call
Host Gemma O’Neill praises Meghan’s resilience and down-to-earth persona, detailing just how excited the Duchess is to be back in Australia after 8 years.
The Duchess of Sussex is officially counting the days until she lands in Sydney for an exclusive women’s only event — an arrival she says she ‘can’t wait’ for. Later this month, Meghan Markle will headline the ‘Her Best Life’ retreat, marking her return to Australia after eight years. Ahead of the highly anticipated appearance, Gemma O’Neill, the co-host of the event and longtime manager of radio icon Jackie O Henderson, shared what she discussed during a recent private Zoom call with Markle, speaking highly of her down-to-earth persona and her excitement to be back in the land down under.
In an Instagram video posted on the @herbestlifepod, O’Neill described Markle as unexpectedly 'divine' and eager to connect with the local community — later admitting that she was 'beside herself' when the collaboration was first secured. “I've literally just got off a Zoom with Meghan,” the co-host said in the video, adding, “It couldn't have been any more kind of real. I just immediately loved chatting to her.” Rather than adhering to the formalities often associated with royal appearances, O’Neill revealed that Markle preferred to take a more personal approach. During the chit-chat, she allegedly expressed her desire for authenticity on stage.
O’Neill added, “She was like, 'let's just have a real chat, woman to woman, let's just go for it,” further noting that Markle is “really looking forward to being in a room with our community and great women.” Expressing her deep admiration for Markle earlier this year when the collab was announced, the host was quick to also praise how she had consistently risen above the challenges she faced. “I have admired this woman and what she has endured, how she's risen above it, and how she has demonstrated how a woman can be pushed down, and she can still rise. That person is Meghan, Duchess of Sussex. I can't believe I am saying those words…There is no one more shocked than me.”
The event's ‘exclusive’ billing has grabbed the attention of royal watchers. The retreat, held at the InterContinental on Coogee Beach, has early bird tickets starting at $2,699 and VIP experiences for as much as $3,199. At that price point, the event promises a 'raw and vulnerable' conversation with the Duchess — and VIP’s will also get the opportunity to attend a gala dinner with front-row access and a group photo with Markle.
Although Markle is the undeniable star of the event, the retreat will also feature yoga, meditation, and psychological workshops aimed at female empowerment. This is something she has focused on in the past as well, when she launched her podcast Confessions of a Female Founder, a business-centric venture that aligns perfectly with the ‘best life’ branding seen in the Sydney event. While the price tag of the event has critics fuming, for O’Neill, the partnership is a career highlight and a clear testament to Markle’s resilience.
