Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's Australia tour 'may stick in the gullet of the Palace,' says royal author

Ben McCaffrey
Sat, 11 Apr 2026 11:58:04 +0000

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are set to jet off to Australia next week, leading royal commentators to warn the trip could "stick in the gullet of the Palace".

Harry, 41, is due to arrive Down Under with Meghan Markle, 44, on April 14 to commence a private tour - their first visit to the country since 2018.

But the premise of the tour has left royal authors claiming it "could get confusing," with the couple stepping away from official Royal duties in 2020.

Some feel the trip could be cause for angst in Buckingham Palace, with officials remaining powerless to intervene.

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Royal author Robert Jobson told Page Six: "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."

Mr Jobson, who penned "The Windsor Legacy," added: "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."

He also noted that "things are all the more awkward, because not that long ago, Australia was debating becoming a republic".

Other royal experts have raised concerns about the Sussexes deploying their titles in a nation where King Charles remains head of state.

Robert Hardman, author of "Elizabeth II: In Private. In Public. The Inside Story," acknowledged the possible contradictions in their position.

"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," he said.

The prince is scheduled to appear at the InterEdge Summit in Melbourne to talk about mental health in the workplace on April 16. He is expected to be paid around AUD$70,000 (£36,800) for his address.

For the event, Harry is being lauded as a figure 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".

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Meanwhile, the Duchess of Sussex is reportedly receiving a whopping $355,000 (£185,000) to appear at a three-day wellness gathering organised by the "Her Best Life" podcast.

Ticket prices at both events have come under fire. Meghan's event is charging approximately £1,400 per person for standard admission, while pricier VIP tickets are available for up to £2,000.

For Harry's keynote speech, "Gold" tickets were priced at almost $2,000 (£1,050), and "Platinum" tickets stood at $2,378 (£1,250).

Organisers later introduced a "Delegate" package, slashing prices by more than 50 per cent to less than $1,000 (£525) in a dash to flog remaining seats.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are travelling to Australia for the first time in almost eight years, just days after Meghan had announced she was pregnant with Archie.

The pair may be expecting a mixed reception, with more than 43,000 signing a petition last month demanding no public money be spent on the forthcoming tour.