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The Duke and Duchess of Sussex recently concluded a swift four-day visit along Australia’s east coast. Their itinerary included events that reflected traditional royal tours—embracing Indigenous culture, Australian sports, visits to charitable causes, and a stop at the national war memorial. Despite these familiar elements, Harry and Meghan were visiting as private individuals, no longer official working members of the Royal Family.
Back in 2018, when they toured as active royals, crowds numbering in the tens of thousands welcomed them during a nine-day journey throughout Australia. This time around, many Australians the BBC engaged with were either unaware of or indifferent to their presence. The visit also drew some criticism after news surfaced that Australian taxpayers might foot some of the security costs linked to the couple’s public appearances. According to Giselle Bastin, an associate professor at Flinders University focused on Australia’s monarchy ties, their carefully managed public engagements helped avoid negative public reactions, stating, “They didn’t turn up at great big advertised opportunities to see them… so they’ve managed to minimise the risk of people having a negative reaction.”
Despite the controlled nature of the trip, Harry and Meghan showed warmth to their supporters, greeting fans with high-fives and selfies. A touching moment was witnessed when Harry met Michelle Haywood at Sydney’s iconic Opera House. Haywood presented him with a photo of her late mother, Daphne Dunne—a war widow who had met Harry in 2015—and wore her husband’s Victoria Cross as a tribute. “He just said, ‘Oh my gosh’ and then he gave me a big hug,” Haywood recalled. “He went through each time he’d met her, and he reminded me of one of the times when it was pouring with rain. He remembered it vividly.”
During the visit, mental health was a recurring focus. The couple engaged with young people about the impact of social media, where Meghan shared her experience of enduring a decade of online bullying. This focus on wellbeing was reflected in the Sussexes’ press statements, which frequently mentioned “connection,” “community,” and “wellbeing” while notably using the word “royal” only once. Despite their significant following on social media, with around 8.7 million followers on Instagram, the boundary between private and commercial activities on this trip was sometimes unclear. Harry’s appearance at a mental health summit involved expensive tickets, though event organizers would not confirm if he received a fee. Meghan was also introduced as an investor in an AI fashion app promoting celebrity styles, and her ongoing commercial ventures, such as her food-related Netflix show and lifestyle brand, continue alongside their philanthropic work.
While the couple’s previous 2018 tour was packed with engagements—76 across 16
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