Prince Harry Called Out for the 'Lucrative' Price He Is Charging for His Mental Health Talk
Royal commentator Neil Sean believes Prince Harry has found his calling in speaking about mental health, an endeavor that commands hefty fees.
Seven years after their last trip as a newly married couple, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle announced plans to visit Australia in mid-April. While many fans were excited, that quickly turned to disappointment after the exorbitant ticket prices for Harry's speaking engagement were revealed. The Duke is set to deliver a keynote on mental health at the InterEdge Psychosocial Safety Summit in Melbourne, where tickets start at $2,378. Weighing in on the same, royal commentator Neil Sean believed Harry had finally found his calling—one that commands significant financial reward.
Speaking on Neil Sean's Daily News Headlines, Sean opined that although the Duke of Sussex had been through his fair share of trauma, he was not qualified to address mental health. He said, "He's [Harry] just a person who went through some trauma and was offered a lot of assistance despite what he says on camera. According to excellent sources, and again, I have to say, allegedly, His Majesty the King tried his very best with various things along the way, and William would testify to this." Alluding to the fact that Harry was 'playing the victim,' he added, "Suddenly, Harry, of course, has found a calling card…It's very lucrative. He's [Harry] going to be talking, as I say, for £2,000 per ticket, all about the difficulties of, well, what it's like growing up, mental health stigma."
Standing by his view, Sean revealed that despite shelling out such a heavy sum, audiences would have to stick to predetermined questions. He continued, "So you can't just put your hand up and say, 'I'd like to ask you about the firing of your staff. How did that work with their mental health?' 'What did you have at Archewell to make sure that they felt secure as they were wiped away?'" Noting the irony of Harry speaking about mental health, the expert argued that the Sussexes had been responsible for several job losses.
As for Harry's upcoming speakership event, GB News reports that it will take place on April 15 and 16 at Melbourne Park. Organizers have revealed that the summit will bring together industry leaders, policymakers, and practitioners to build strategies around safe workplaces. All proceeds for the event will go towards supporting Lifeline Naarm, a 24-hour crisis support and suicide prevention service. Meanwhile, the Duke is expected to appear alongside other keynote speakers, including psychologist Amy Cuddy, former tennis player Jelena Dokic, and podcaster Hugh van Cuylenburg.
Interestingly, Harry is not the only one accused of charging a hefty sum to hear him speak in Australia. Markle, too, has come under fire for commanding a steep price to headline a gala dinner for Her Best Life retreat. The exclusive event, organized by radio star Jackie 'O' Henderson's event company, Besties, will run from April 17 to April 19 at the InterContinental Hotel in Coogee, Sydney. As per the company's website, fans have to shell out $2,699, with spots limited to just 300 attendees.
