Prince Harry is set to headline a high-profile real estate conference in Canada, where he’ll speak to an audience of 450 estate agents about the themes of service and leadership. The Duke of Sussex, known for his diverse background as a humanitarian, mental health advocate, environmentalist, and military veteran, will deliver the keynote speech at the Ontario Real Estate Association (Orea) Power House event in Toronto on December 1. The gathering will be held at the Hilton Hotel, with tickets priced at £270 each.

The event organizers have highlighted Prince Harry’s commitment to inspiring “positive and lasting change for communities and the planet,” focusing particularly on promoting resilience and healing. This appearance comes after Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, made significant property investments, including the purchase of a $15 million (£11 million) home in Montecito, California, in 2020, following their decision to step back from royal duties and relocate to the United States. In a further expansion of their real estate ventures, the couple reportedly acquired a property in Portugal last October, sparking speculation about a burgeoning global property portfolio. Previously, the Sussexes resided in several royal residences in the UK, such as Frogmore Cottage in Windsor, for which they reimbursed £2.4 million to cover refurbishment and rental costs.

Additionally, Harry and Meghan called Nottingham Cottage, located within the grounds of Kensington Palace in London, their home from 2017 to 2019. Harry had been living there solo since 2013, following his move from Clarence House after his brother, Prince William, moved out. The upcoming conference promises to be a significant event, with attendees informed that Prince Harry will deliver a “powerful message of service and leadership” on the Power House stage. Ticket prices range from C$299 (£163) for Orea members to C$499 (£272) for non-members, and the event is being touted as “THE political event of the year” by its organizers.

The audience will ‘hear from influential leaders, political pundits, and powerful insiders on all things real estate policy, housing supply and the Canadian economy’. Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams, former editor of The International Who’s Who, told the Daily Mail that it was an unusual event for Harry to speak at. He said: ‘It seems ironic that Prince Harry is appearing at a real estate conference talking about ‘service and leadership’. His service as a working royal lasted only 20 months once he married Meghan. ‘He betrayed Queen Elizabeth II, whom he called his ‘Commander-in-Chief’, by trashing the monarchy in destructive interviews and in an ill-judged memoir.’

On ‘leadership’, Mr Fitzwilliams pointed out that the Charity Commission was critical of the way his Lesotho charity Sentebale was run when he was a patron. He added: ‘He is a member of the board of Africa Parks which has admitted abuses but he has remained silent about this.’ This is a reference to African Parks acknowledging that guards at one of its national parks in the Republic of Congo committed human rights abuses against Indigenous peoples who were displaced when the park was constructed. Mr Fitzwilliams also said: ‘Invictus is remarkable to be sure, but he otherwise seems to be drifting in Meghan’s wake as she desperately attempts to be a Hollywood A-lister with a brand that sells.’

He told how Harry ‘could undoubtedly make some money on the speakers’ circuit, but it is surely rather aimless, like his brief appearances in Meghan’s videos’. He continued: ‘it is ridiculous that he is appearing at a real estate power conference but will not, we are told, be talking about real estate. ‘He lived in grace and favour homes as a member of the Royal Family. There is the Sussexes’ home in Montecito and reportedly a property in Portugal. He certainly has no expertise on the subject. ‘Harry looks at ease when he is having fun with the kids at, for example, the WellChild Awards. However the speakers’ circuit is a refuge for the superannuated, who are usually past their prime – and if he does this regularly, many might think his best future is behind him.’

Other speakers at the conference will include local news editors, mayors and politicians including Ontario premier Doug Ford and the Green Party’s Ontario leader Mike Schreiner. The conference will run between 9am to 4.30pm. Harry is expected speak in person, but it is not known whether his wife Meghan Markle will join him. Meghan has a close affinity with Toronto having lived there from 2011 to 2017 while filming TV legal drama Suits, in which she played paralegal Rachel Zane. She and Harry spent time together in the city during the early stages of their relationship, before becoming engaged in 2017 and marrying in Windsor in 2018.

An Instagram post by the Buzz Conference, another real estate event in Canada which announced the Power House conference, said: ‘The Headliner Keynote Speaker is Prince Harry, humanitarian, mental health advocate, environmentalist, and military combat veteran. ‘His work is dedicated to creating positive and lasting change for communities and the planet, particularly in advancing conversations around resilience and healing. ‘Now, he won’t be speaking about Real Estate. Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, will bring a powerful message of service and leadership to the Power House stage. ‘Trust us, you’re not going to want to miss this one!” The Orea website added: ‘This is your chance to hear from influential leaders, political pundits, and powerful insiders on all things real estate policy, housing supply and the Canadian economy.

‘Orea’s Power House conference is THE political event of the year and you don’t want to miss it.’ It comes after Harry visited Toronto earlier this month where he took part in events ahead of Remembrance Day, including spending time with Canadian soldiers. He spent two days in Toronto meeting veterans, members of the armed forces community and military charities to mark the ‘Remembrancetide’ period which spans the two-week period leading up to Remembrance Sunday. Speaking about Toronto, Harry told a dinner in the city: ‘You provided a wife for me and you hosted the Invictus Games in 2017, touchstones in my life both professionally and personally.’

The trip clashed with Harry’s brother Prince William’s Earthshot Prize awards ceremony during his major tour to Brazil. Harry denied deliberately trying to overshadow William’s with his own visit – but his version of events about the diary clash was later disputed by Palace staff. The Duke had claimed the royal household was informed in advance, ‘as a courtesy’, that he was going to Toronto when his brother was in Rio de Janeiro. But multiple sources then insisted his announcement caught royal aides ‘by surprise’, and had also ruffled feathers.