Sussex Camp Fires Back as Critics Accuse Harry and Meghan of Using Aussie Trip for Limelight
Sussex PR chief Liam Maguire blasts critics and clarifies funding details ahead of Harry and Meghan’s four-day Australian tour.
Ahead of their high-profile visit to Australia next week, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s new PR head and close friend, Liam Maguire, has launched a stinging defense of the couple, hitting back at critics and dismissing ‘publicity tour’ labels. Utilizing the official document titled the ‘Operational Planning Notes,’ he shut down the simmering resentment over how the trip is being funded. Maguire—who's also a military veteran like the Duke—clarified that Australian taxpayers would not be footing the bill for the four-day tour, directly addressing a petition signed by more than 43,000 people against the use of public funds.
Refuting the narrative that the Sussexes’ upcoming trip to the land down under is a strategic move to regain momentum after losing their Netflix contract, the PR head offered a pointed reply. He insisted that the itinerary be built on the couple’s established philanthropic efforts rather than a desire for the limelight. “The program is rooted in long-standing areas of work for the Duke and Duchess, with a clear focus on amplifying organizations delivering measurable impact,” Maguire stated, adding, “The visit prioritizes listening, learning, and supporting communities rather than promotion.”
The tour—which kicks off next Tuesday—will take the couple through Sydney, Melbourne, and Canberra. Despite the Duke and Duchess stepping back as senior working royals in 2020, their schedule looks remarkably similar to that of a traditional royal tour. Centered around mental health and veterans’ affairs, the visit will feature planned appearances at a children’s hospital and an Invictus Australia event on Sydney Harbour. To mitigate the risk of a hostile reception, as predicted by some royal experts, Harry and Markle have seemingly taken precautions, with reports suggesting they would be opting out of large-scale public walkabouts that defined their 2018 visit.
Even royal commentator Tom Sykes had echoed the same sentiment, warning that the couple will need ‘thick skins’ while visiting Australia, where they are allegedly not welcome. Writing on his Substack, he pointed towards a 2022 poll that highlighted Harry and Markle’s declining public support. He further said that the two may become ‘lightning rods’ for controversy, particularly as Australia continues to debate its future as a Commonwealth realm. While these issues persist in the backdrop, the Duke and Duchess are all set to balance joint appearances with solo engagements.
For instance, Markle is scheduled to visit a women’s homeless shelter, and Harry will focus on his affinity for sports, visiting an AFL club in Melbourne and a rugby game in Sydney. The document also clarified that their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, won’t be joining their parents on the trip—a decision that stands in contrast to Prince William and Princess Catherine’s 2014 tour, which was highlighted by a nine-month-old Prince George meeting his bilby namesake at Sydney’s Taronga Zoo.
Despite the Sussexes' claim that they were “invited to Australia by a number of groups,” the visit remains a major point of debate among royal watchers. But by challenging detractors before the tour even begins, Maguire has seemingly made it clear that the Duke and Duchess will not remain silent and frame their upcoming engagement as a mere rebranding exercise.
