Prince Harry and Meghan Markle finished a four-day visit to Australia’s east coast, according to an April 19 report. The trip included stops focused on Indigenous culture, Australian sports, charitable causes, and a visit to the national war memorial. Unlike their last official tour in 2018 as working royals, this visit was conducted in a private capacity.
The significance of the couple’s trip lies in its contrast with previous royal tours. While their earlier visits drew large crowds, this time most Australians appeared unaware or uninterested in their presence. There was also some criticism regarding reports that taxpayers might cover part of the security costs for public events.
Giselle Bastin, associate professor at Flinders University who researches Australia’s relationship with the monarchy, said: “If they think it’s gone well, it’s because nothing has gone wrong.” Bastin added that the couple avoided large advertised gatherings: “They didn’t turn up at great big advertised opportunities to see them… so they’ve managed to minimise the risk of people having a negative reaction… It has been very carefully controlled so that they just sort of spontaneously appear at places.”
During their engagements, Harry and Meghan interacted closely with fans and charity representatives. Michelle Haywood shared her experience meeting Prince Harry at Sydney Opera House: “He just said, ‘Oh my gosh’ and then he gave me a big hug… He remembered it vividly.” The couple’s press releases emphasized themes like connection and community throughout their schedule.
Mental health advocacy featured prominently during the trip. Meghan spoke about her experiences with online harassment: she had been “the most trolled person in the world” for ten years. Both participated in events supporting mental health charities; proceeds from one summit went entirely to Lifeline Australia.
Commercial activities were also present but not always clearly defined as paid or unpaid appearances. Meghan attended a retreat as a paid guest and was introduced as an investor in an AI fashion platform featuring items she wore during the tour. She also filmed an episode of MasterChef Australia without payment but is developing food-related ventures under her As Ever lifestyle brand.
Some observers questioned whether certain commercial aspects were appropriate given current economic conditions; Bastin described some ventures as potentially “tone deaf in a cost-of-living crisis.” However, Michael Hartung of Invictus Australia defended their impact: “What we’ve seen this past week is they do a hell of a lot for charity… Their presence here has made a significant impact on our work.” Supporters expressed approval for how Harry and Meghan balance earning income while contributing to charitable causes.
