Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are set to make a surprise visit to Australia in the coming weeks, their first since their celebrated royal tour over seven years ago.
According to reports from news.com.au, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex plan to visit Sydney and Melbourne in mid-April. Their itinerary includes engagements related to both their business ventures and charitable initiatives.
It remains uncertain whether their children, Prince Archie, 6, and Princess Lilibet, 4, will accompany them or stay back in Montecito, California.
Though their schedule has yet to be fully unveiled, there is speculation that Harry might connect with members of Australia’s armed forces or its veterans’ community, given his longstanding ties to these groups.
Meanwhile, Meghan might explore Australia’s podcasting world, with rumors suggesting she could make an appearance on the ‘Her Best Life’ podcast. This podcast is co-hosted by Jackie O Henderson under her ‘Besties’ brand.
Currently, Jackie O is making headlines due to the unexpected collapse of the Kyle and Jackie O Show last week. She had previously stepped back from the podcast in February.
Meghan is also rumoured to appear as a special guest at an upcoming Besties event, similar to actress Gwyneth Paltrow who took part in a Q&A with Henderson at Sydney’s Darling Harbour in 2023.
No events are currently advertised on the Besties website however followers are encouraged to ‘sign up to be the first to know.’
The Sussexes last travelled to Australia in 2018 as working members of the British royal family.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are expected to tour Sydney and Melbourne in mid-April
Meghan is due to appear on Jackie O Henderson’s podcast ‘Her Best Life’
Meghan had just announced she was pregnant with her and Harry’s first child, with the trip widely considered a huge success for the-then newlyweds.
Within 18 months of the tour, the couple had had stepped back from their royal roles and moved to California with their son Archie.
Royal historian Tim Ewart told Sky News: ‘Australia broke Harry and Meghan and was one of the catalysts for them leaving the Royal Family. She and Harry had expected they would get much more praise and recognition from that royal tour.’
In their 2021 Oprah Winfrey interview, Harry said: ‘It really changed after the Australia tour, after our South Pacific tour.
‘It was the first time that the family got to see how incredible she is at the job. And that brought back memories.
‘To see how effortless it was for Meghan to come into the family so quickly in Australia and across New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga, and just be able to connect with people.’
News of the Sussexes’ upcoming trip comes just days after it was announced Meghan had split from Netflix and would take complete control of her As Ever jam brand, after the streaming giant dropped her lifestyle show amid savage reviews from critics.
The Duchess announced a partnership with the company a year ago when it commissioned a new season of her show, With Love, Meghan.
During the 2018 tour, the couple had just announced Meghan was pregnant with their first child
The deal gave Netflix a stake in her As Ever brand, which includes her jam, rosé wine and flower sprinkles.
Insiders claim Meghan thought Netflix was being too ‘cautious’ and wants to ‘go global’, believing her brand can ‘stand on its own’.
Meghan’s Christmas episode, ‘With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration’ attracted scathing reviews from critics, who accused her of being ‘out of touch’ in the ‘tectonically tacky’ show.
A spokesman for As Ever confirmed to the Daily Mail: ‘As Ever is grateful for Netflix’s partnership through launch and our first year.
‘We have experienced meaningful and rapid growth and As Ever is now ready to stand on its own.
‘We have an exciting year ahead and can’t wait to share more.’
