Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Return to California After Australian Tour
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have returned to their home in California following a whirlwind four-day visit to Australia, their first trip down under in eight years. The tour was framed as a victory lap under the global spotlight, but a new poll suggests it did little to shift public perceptions of the couple.
Poll Shows Overwhelming Public Disapproval
According to a Roy Morgan poll commissioned by 7NEWS, an overwhelming 81 percent of respondents stated that the visit did not improve their opinion of the California-based Duke and Duchess of Sussex. A majority also believed the trip would do little to help Prince Harry repair his fractured relationship with King Charles, which has continued to deteriorate since he stepped back from royal duties in 2020.
During the tour, Meghan Markle spoke candidly about the impact of social media on young people's mental health, drawing praise from some observers. She told a group, "For 10 years now, every day for 10 years, I have been bullied and attacked. And I'm still here." Despite her efforts to present a more open side, only 24 percent of respondents said Meghan had come across more positively during the visit.
Mixed Reactions to the Unofficial Royal Tour
The couple's Australian visit appeared markedly different from their previous tour eight years ago, when they arrived as heavily-scrutinised newlyweds and soon after announced their first pregnancy. This time, despite a raft of private engagements, the week carried subtle echoes of regality, with some observers describing it as an unofficial royal tour in all but name.
Crowded appearances, eager locals bearing gifts, a large media presence, and heartfelt meet-and-greets with veterans all added to the royal atmosphere, official or not. However, the reception has been mixed, with some praising the couple and others labelling the trip a cash grab.
Royal author Tom Bower commented, "They are keen to resurrect their reputations as royals, while pretending they're not royal and cashing in completely on their royal status. I just find them pretty unconvincing. For a couple who said they had to leave Britain because they needed their privacy, who now do everything to expose not only themselves but their children to cash in on it all, it's pretty grotesque."
Highlights and Engagements During the Visit
Despite the criticism, others have hailed the trip a success. Melburnians openly welcomed the couple in their droves, particularly during their first public appearance at the city's Royal Children's Hospital, where Harry and Meghan were greeted like rock stars. Four-year-old oncology patient Lily said, "They were friendly and they were very, very nice to me."
Key engagements included:
- Prince Harry participated in a Movember discussion about men's mental health and fatherhood before taking to the field for a chat with players and a kick of a football at the Western Bulldogs HQ in Footscray, Victoria.
- At Swinburne University, the pair visited mental health organisation Batyr, with a crowd lining barricades as news of the visit spread.
- Harry and Meghan met with veterans on their final day in Sydney, with the duke dancing with kids before taking a boat ride on the harbour alongside Invictus Australia representatives and finishing the day at a rugby match.
- Meghan was whisked off to headline a women's retreat, where tickets reportedly started at $2699.
Contrast with Previous Tour and Broader Context
The couple's visit eight years earlier lasted 16 days and included more than 70 engagements, ranging from meeting drought-stricken farmers in Dubbo to cuddling koalas at Taronga Zoo and greeting children at a reception hosted by the prime minister. Much has changed since then, with them stepping away as senior royals in 2020, followed by lucrative Netflix and Spotify deals, as well as Harry's tell-all memoir Spare.
Interestingly, nearly half of those surveyed said they would welcome the couple moving to Australia, while 49 percent believed the late Queen would have approved of the trip. The tour has sparked ongoing debate about their global profile and future endeavors.
