During an exclusive meet and greet in Sydney, the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, posed a thought-provoking question to her dedicated fans: is it time for her to focus on self-investment after a lifelong commitment to empowering women?

Meghan addressed a select audience at the Her Best Life retreat on Friday, marking the conclusion of her four-day visit to Australia with Prince Harry.

Attendees paid as much as £1,700 for VIP access, which included front-row seats at the Q&A session and a chance to snap a photo with the Duchess herself.

In her 90-minute stage appearance, Meghan asked, “I’ve spent all my life investing in women. Can I finally invest in me?” reflecting on her personal journey.

She also shared with the audience that her time in the spotlight has been challenging, attributing much of the criticism she faced to the personal ‘projections’ of others.

Despite celebrating joyous milestones like her wedding and the births of her two children over the past decade, these moments have been overshadowed by relentless public scrutiny, she confided.

Meghan said motherhood had taught her to have perspective and patience, something she needed, ‘given what our life is like’.

The Duchess of Sussex asked superfans if it was finally time to invest in herself after spending ‘all her life investing in women’ during a VIP meet and greet event in Sydney

Meghan Markle (pictured with Gemma O’Neill) was speaking to a private audience at Her Best Life retreat on Friday as her four-day trip to Australia with Prince Harry came to an end

It is understood that organisers of the event, which was held at the InterContinental hotel near to Coogee beach, had paid £120,000 for Meghan’s appearance. 

Tickets included a gala dinner of Hiramasa kingfish tostada, vannella burrata, riverina Angus beef tenderloin, free range chicken, coconut crumble and mango and passionfruit pavlova. 

Prince Harry was also in attendance, and rose to his feet as his wife entered the room to greet her with a kiss and help her onto the stage. 

Meghan wore a cashmere tank from Australian brand Scanlan & Theodore paired with beige trousers and nude heels for the Q&A chat. 

High-profile guests included radio queens Jackie O Henderson and Carrie Bickmore, along with reality TV star Megan Towner. 

Meghan also spoke alongside her friend Gemma O’Neill – the talent manager who represents Jackie O. 

A strict ‘no filming’ rule was in place during the event but a photographer was on hand to capture the key moments. 

A guest, who did not wish to be named, told The Times: ‘She was saying that she wanted to be an antidote for everything online that was vicious, venomous and unfairly cruel.

‘She also said that Harry had kept her safe, especially from the lions and elephants when they went on a date to Botswana.’

Meghan and Harry quietly slip out of Sydney after the Duchess appeared at the retreat 

The Duke and Duchess arrive to meet volunteer first responders from Bondi Surf Bathers’ Life Saving Club during a visit to Bondi Beach

On Saturday morning, the group was due to enjoy an optional yoga class at 7.45am before ‘easing into the day’ with a buffet breakfast. 

But unbeknownst to the attendees, their star guest Meghan had already left the building. 

The Duke and Duchess quietly slipped out of the hotel’s underground car park at 7.20am local time today. 

They travelled in a small motorcade of one NSW police BMW and two glossy Range Rovers to the Sydney international airport.

The Daily Mail understands they were booked on a 9am American Airlines flight to Los Angeles, where they will land Saturday morning California time. 

There they will be reunited with their children, Prince Archie, six, and Princess Lilibet, four, at their mansion in Montecito.

The Duchess has faced criticism for monetising aspects her trip Down Under. 

This includes a partnership with AI fashion website OneOff where fans can buy the clothes she’s wearing.

Meghan is expected to earn a portion of the company’s sales commission, which ranges from 10 per cent to 25 per cent per item sold. 

She is also an investor in the AI-powered fashion business. 

It is not clear how much the duchess expects to make, but the firm said of its deal with Meghan: ‘She cares about fashion and was motivated to invest not only to expand her portfolio, but to help uplift the fashion designers she is a fan of.’

One of the outfits advertised online was what she wore to meet survivors of the Bondi terror attack.

The Duchess of Sussex had looked deeply moved as she listened to stories from those who witnessed the horrific antisemitic massacre in December that claimed 15 lives. 

Meghan also embraced Jessica Chapnik Kahn, who survived while shielding her five-year-old daughter after attending a Hanukkah party. 

She and Harry also spoke to first responders to the Bondi terrorist attack, including lifeguards on the beach.