Meghan’s Upcoming Australia Tour Raises Eyebrows as She Makes Major Business Move
Even if the public reception is chilly, the plans for a Sussex-led Australian empire are already well underway.
While some dismiss Meghan Markle’s upcoming Australian tour as a high-priced ‘girls’ weekend, bombshell trademark filings suggest she is actually laying the groundwork for a massive business takeover of the land down under. Despite public denials from the Sussex camp, fresh details from the Australian Government IP department reveal that the Duchess has successfully secured 12 trademarks for her lifestyle brand, As Ever, within Australia. With official approval granted last June, the brand is now legally cleared for a rollout — spanning a diverse catalog of lifestyle products like skincare, dog treats, and gardening gear, to name a few.
Despite the paper trail, a representative for the Sussexes told journalist Paula Froelich that the trademark moves were almost unintentional — claiming, as per Sky News, that the 2024 filings “pre-dated our work on this” and were made without their knowledge. Yet, with a dozen trademarks now officially secured, the “no other developments” defense is beginning to wear thin, especially as Markle prepares for her April arrival. To some insiders, the move is a strategic no-brainer — given the Duchess’s high-name recognition in an English-speaking market. But while her name is guaranteed to draw a crowd, a warm welcome is another matter entirely.
Returning to Sydney and Melbourne for “private, business and philanthropic engagements” — the first time since their 2018 tour — the Sussexes find themselves in a vastly different climate. Even royal journalist Tom Sykes had previously issued a warning, suggesting Harry and Markle will need ‘thick skins’ to navigate the country where they are no longer the ‘guaranteed’ favorites they were seven years ago. “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 wrote on his Substack.
The private nature of the visit has triggered a wave of public frustration, highlighted by a Change.org petition that has rapidly crossed the 10,000-signature mark. The main goal of the campaign is simple — Australians should not be expected to cover the cost of “security, logistics, or government coordination” for a couple whose financial obligations should be as private as their status.
Despite the high-end branding, the true market value of Markle’s visit remains under fire, especially regarding her $3,000-per-ticket appearance at Sydney’s ‘Her Best Life’ retreat. While the event is fronted by high-profile duo Jackie ‘O’ Handerson and Gemma O’Neill, it has not escaped the ‘Brand Meghan’ skepticism — with Paula Froelich reporting in The Scoop that the retreat may not be the sell-out success it claims to be.
“My source reached out…She'd seen the event listed as sold out, but noticed you could still register "just in case" tickets became available. So she signed up… last night…And this morning she received an email offering her a ticket. And it's a doozy,” she wrote. While public sentiment in 2026 may be a far cry from the adoration of 2018, the foundation of her commercial empire is already set in stone.
