Overview
- Harry and Meghan opened a four-day visit on Tuesday in Melbourne with stops at the Royal Children’s Hospital, a women’s shelter, and a veterans’ arts museum.
- The plan takes them to Canberra on Wednesday for events at the Australian War Memorial and a Last Post Ceremony, back to Melbourne on Thursday for Harry’s paid keynote at the InterEdge psychosocial safety summit, and to Sydney on Friday for Invictus-linked sailing and a rugby match.
- Although the couple say the trip is privately funded, NSW Police confirmed a security operation and local reporting says some policing costs may fall to taxpayers, leading to a petition that has drawn more than 45,000 signatures.
- The visit features commercial events, including Meghan headlining a luxury women’s retreat in Sydney priced from about A$2,699, reflecting their mix of public advocacy and ticketed appearances.
- Reception has been more muted than their 2018 royal tour, with no public walkabouts planned due to cost concerns, and they flew business class on a commercial Qantas flight without their children.