Overview
- Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s spokesperson rejected a Change.org campaign as a moot point, saying the mid‑April visit will be funded privately and calling claims to the contrary ridiculous.
- The petition, started by the group Beyond Australia, has drawn tens of thousands of signatures urging that taxpayers not cover security, logistics or government coordination for the couple.
- Event listings show Meghan will headline Her Best Life in Sydney with tickets around A$3,000 and Harry will speak at a workplace mental‑health summit in Melbourne during a short stay.
- Reporters noted recent uncertainty over who would handle security after state and federal officials declined to spell it out, though 7NEWS reported there is no government funding or support being provided.
- This will be their first trip to Australia since an official 2018 tour that included police escorts and lodging at the Governor‑General’s residence, a precedent that shapes today’s debate over support for private visits.