Why Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Australia Tour Puts the Palace in an 'Awkward' Spot
Harry and Meghan's Australia visit will mark their first visit to the country since their 2018 royal tour, after they stepped back from royal duties in 2020.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s upcoming visit to Australia has already been causing controversy. Many royal commentators believe that the tour, being privately organized, risks blurring the lines between celebrity appearances and royal representation. The couple is expected to arrive on April 14, and it would mark their first visit to the country since their 2018 royal tour, after they stepped back from royal duties in 2020. The intention of the visit, especially in a nation where King Charles is the head of state, has led to warnings that their upcoming tour could create discomfort within palace walls and raise questions about the Sussexes’ roles.
As per Page Six, royal author Robert Jobson said that although the palace is not eager for Harry and Markle’s trip, they have little to no authority to stop it. He emphasized, “I'm sure [Buckingham Palace] would prefer that Harry and Meghan weren't going, but there's not a lot they can do about it. They have no control.” The author continued, “There will undoubtedly be a sense of confusion about what Harry and Meghan are there for… this trip may stick in the gullet of the palace.” Jobson revealed another factor which would add to the confusion: “Things are all the more awkward because not that long ago, Australia was debating becoming a republic.” He suggested that the Sussex clan’s presence in Australia could revive constitutional sensitivities while also shining a light on their post-royal independence.
Another author, Robert Hardman, has also echoed similar concerns and stressed the abovementioned sense of ambiguity. According to GB News, while addressing the contradictions around the former royal couple’s positioning, he revealed, “It does get confusing. If they are travelling as celebrities, which is what they are, that's fine, but if there is any royal or official apparatus, then that's going to invite criticism.” Whether Harry and Markle will appear as private figures or leverage royal associations remains at the center of his concerns. It’s an issue that will unravel itself as more details of their planned appearance will come into focus.
Prince Harry will grace the InterEdge Summit with his presence at the tour as a speaker on April 16. He will discuss workplace mental health and is expected to receive around AUD$70,000 (approx. USD$49,252.35) for his address. Organizers, while announcing him as the speaker, described the prince as someone who “has dedicated his life to service and uplifting communities, while emphasising the importance of our collective mental health in his philanthropic and advocacy work globally." On the other hand, Markle will be earning $355,000 for her appearance at a three-day wellness gathering being hosted by Her Best Life podcast, and it has only stirred the pot regarding the commercial nature of their visit.
The ticket pricing of both events has also raised eyebrows and added to the debate regarding the trip. The standard admission fee for Meghan’s event is £1,400 (approx. $1,876.53) per person, while the VIP tickets are £2,000 (approx. $2,680.07). For Harry’s keynote speech, the gold ticket pricing is for £1,050, i.e., almost $2,000, and platinum tickets are £1,250 ( approx. $2,378). As the couple is gearing up for their first Australian tour in almost eight years, they’ll most likely face a mixed reception, as more than 43,000 people also signed a petition last month demanding no public money be spent on their soon-to-happen tour.
