Want a Photo With Meghan Markle? It Comes at a Hefty Price
Meghan Markle’s retreat is getting attention as guests have to pay extra if they want a group photo with her
Meghan Markle, along with husband Prince Harry, is currently busy with their ongoing Australian tour. Among many activities, Markle will also headline a women-only retreat over the weekend, and the event is gaining immense attention, but not for the right reasons. Apparently, on top of a hefty price tag to take part in the intimate gathering, there is also a fee to click a single picture with the Duchess.
Markle’s “Her Best Life” retreat in Sydney comes with a little catch. Reportedly, getting a photo with her is not automatically included. Guests who want in on that moment will need to unlock a VIP upgrade that comes with an added $330 fee. Standard entry starts at around $1,780 per person, based on a twin-share room. There is also an early bird option priced slightly higher, at about $1,930. According to reports, she is getting paid a whopping $1million for headlining the three-day event.
Furthermore, the VIP tier begins at roughly $2,110. This upgrade comes with added perks, including a private hotel room, an exclusive goodie bag, and access to the much-talked-about group photo with Markle. At the top end, prices can go up to $3,199 for the full VIP package. That highest tier includes everything from a gala dinner to an ocean-view room. The weekend getaway is happening at the luxe InterContinental Coogee Beach from Friday through Sunday.
There is also a strict rule in place for the weekend: phones are completely off-limits during the Duchess’s interview session. No photos, no videos, nothing. Organisers are calling it a non-negotiable security requirement, so guests will not be able to capture any of those moments themselves. Because of that, the official group photo starts to feel like a bigger deal as it might actually be the only physical memory people leave with from the experience.
Gemma O'Neill, who hosts the Her Best Life podcast, organised the “the ultimate girls weekend” retreat with 300 attendees. O’Neil said about Markle, “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.” The former Suits actress is scheduled as a keynote speaker at the gala dinner. The organizer also explained the reason behind Markle’s participation, “She’s doing it because she really loves what our community is about, which is women trying to grow, try to be their best selves, and trying to help other women.” Apart from her, a renowned therapist, Dr. Justine Corry, will be leading a “powerful women’s session” including meditation and manifestation workshops.
Although the event sounds almost like a dream with women-focused activities, the price tag is just too hard to ignore. The initial rollout has also raised a few questions. Tickets were initially marked as sold out, only for a limited batch of extra rooms to be released later. There have also been a few security threats and sabotage that can easily make it a bad experience for everyone involved.
