Celebrity
Harry and Meghan Australia Tour 2026: Harry and Meghan’s tour of Australia is anything but ‘private’ as the former royals return Down Under
There’s nothing like the excitement and fever of a royal tour Down Under.
Except, Prince Harry and Meghan’s visit to Australia – their first since sensationally leaving Buckingham Palace behind for a new life in the US – should be anything but ‘royal’.
You’d be forgiven for thinking differently when the Duke and Duchess of Sussex flew into The Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne today on the first stop of their private four-day tour.
I stood just feet away from the former royals as they arrived, and it was hard not to feel the magic of their decidedly non-royal presence.
Despite the fact that the couple is only here in a ‘private’ capacity, their visit looks, feels and smells exactly the same as a regular royal tour.
For starters, the entire visit is being billed as one led by the “Duke and Duchess of Sussex.”
Their royal titles remain central, despite being private citizens
And Meghan mastered the graceful poise of a seasoned royal during her time in the fold, and it’s on full display in Melbourne.
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Her attention was drawn to young patients and staff at the hospital as she made her way through the crowd of waiting fans.
She accepted flowers, handed out hugs and handshakes and patiently posed for selfies
A four-year-old patient, Lily, presented the couple with a hand-drawn sign reading “Welcome Harry and Meghan” and gave a single flower to the Duchess.
Meghan hugged Lily after receiving the presents and told her: “Oh my god, this is so sweet. I love it.”
The waiting journalists and photographers, behind whom Meghan and Harry stood behind for most of their visit, were just white noise.
She turned and smiled shortly after I took the opportunity to call her and welcome her to Australia.
But her focus on the patients was razor sharp
Harry, meanwhile, remained in protective mode – a well-rehearsed dynamic of their relationship.
When he could, the Duke of Sussex kept an arm around Meghan’s waist and gently guided her as they spoke to as many people as possible.
His behavior was a carryover from their first visit in 2018, when Meghan was a newcomer to the royal family and needed guidance.
After 10 to 15 minutes, the Sussexes were taken for the private part of their visit.
This is almost scene by scene exactly how a normal royal tour would unfold.
Harry’s parents, Charles and Diana, Princess of Wales, visited the Royal Children’s Hospital in 1985 and met patients during a visit to the state of Victoria.
The hospital’s new location was opened in October 2011 by Elizabeth II, who met patients during her visit during her royal tour of Australia with Prince Philip.
The visit of Australia’s Queen Mary of Denmark and King Frederick X to Melbourne last month was very similar.
There are even rumors that there will be taxpayer-funded police protection for Harry and Meghan during their trip, despite assurances that this will be privately funded.
However, the Sussexes organized this trip without any help from the government or taxpayers.
It was the job of their small team and the staff at each location they visited to ensure everything ran smoothly.
Harry will also continue the legacy of his late mother Princess Diana’s charity work with an appearance at a Movember event at Melbourne’s Whitten Oval with players from the Western Bulldogs AFL team tomorrow.
But this kind of charity work is only part of the reason for their journey.
The extra income that comes with money makes the relationship between Harry and Meghan very different.
Prince Harry will give a keynote speech at a summit later this week, where tickets will cost up to $2,400 per person.
Meghan, meanwhile, is headlining an exclusive Sydney beach retreat in Coogee, where tickets start at $2699.
Early bird tickets for the retreat with Meghan start at $2,699, while the VIP experience costs $3,199 per person.
It is unclear how much profit the couple expects to make on this tour.
But one thing is clear: if they were still working royals, these events wouldn’t be happening.
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