Prince Harry and his wife Meghan arrived in Australia on Tuesday to begin a four-day visit featuring engagements related to sport, mental health, and veterans’ affairs. Their first stop was the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne, where they participated in activities within the hospital’s therapeutic garden. Dressed in a navy suit and white shirt, Prince Harry interacted with children and posed for photos with patients in the hospital foyer, praising a handmade welcome sign as “beautiful.” Meghan, wearing a navy dress valued at A$1,250 ($885) by Sydney designer Karen Gee, later assisted in serving meals at a women’s domestic violence shelter in Melbourne.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex stepped back from their roles as working members of the British royal family in 2020, relocating to the United States to seek financial independence and avoid what they described as intrusive media coverage. Their previous visit to Australia was in 2018, while still active royals, when they announced Meghan’s first pregnancy shortly after arriving in Sydney.
In a significant development, Meghan is set to lead a wellness retreat during this trip, scheduled for the weekend at a luxury beachside hotel in Sydney. The event will feature activities such as yoga, manifestation, and sound healing, with tickets starting at A$2,699 ($1,912) per person.
While the visit has attracted public interest in Australia, where King Charles remains head of state amid ongoing republican debates, the reception has been notably more subdued than in 2018. Media outlets broadcast footage of the couple arriving in Melbourne on a commercial flight from Los Angeles, followed by a vehicle convoy from the tarmac. Although the couple is privately funding their travel, reports indicate that some policing expenses related to their visit will be covered by Australian taxpayers, prompting a protest petition signed by over 45,000 people.
The Sussexes’ itinerary includes a trip to Canberra on Wednesday to meet military veterans, participation in a mental health summit in Melbourne on Thursday, and attendance at sailing and rugby events in Sydney on Friday. Unlike their previous visit, this trip also involves commercial activities, with Meghan remaining in Australia after Harry departs to host the wellness retreat.
