Prince Harry suffers blow ahead of trip to Australia as ticket prices to key event slashed in half

Ben McCaffrey
Fri, 10 Apr 2026 13:06:13 +0000

Prince Harry has suffered a major blow ahead of his trip to Australia, with the Duke of Sussex's scheduled keynote speech struggling to sell tickets.

Harry, 41, is due to land Down Under with Meghan Markle, 44, next week, as they commence the private tour - their first visit to the country since 2018.

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.

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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."

The two-day summit at Melbourne Park will feature other speakers, such as retired tennis champion Jelena Dokic.

However, organisers have struggled to shift tickets.

Initially, "Gold" tickets had been priced at almost $2,000 (£1,050), while "Platinum" tickets were set at $2,378 (£1,250).

Now, organisers have introduced a "Delegate" package, slashing prices by more than 50 per cent to less than $1,000 (£525).

Additionally, virtual options are available for $498 (£260).

A "Conference Hospitality Package" is also available, which includes morning tea, stand-up lunch stations, afternoon tea, and coffee and tea stations.

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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.

Tickets are priced at approximately £1,400 per person for standard admission, though additional tickets are said to have been made available.

The event offers access to Meghan's appearance, a brief Q&A session, following a gala dinner.

Meanwhile, the pricier VIP tickets, available for up to £2,000, provide seats closer to the stage for a "fireside chat" with the duchess, plus a group photo.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are travelling to Australia for the first time in almost eight years, just months after their lavish, high-profile wedding at Windsor Castle.

The pair have been told to expect a mixed reception, with more than 43,000 signing a petition last month demanding no public money be spent on the forthcoming tour.