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In April, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are set to make their way to Australia, marking their first return to the nation since 2018, back when they were still active members of the royal family. Although the complete itinerary remains under wraps, a leak about one of the duchess’s engagements has reportedly left Meghan feeling uneasy, keeping her awake with concern.
So, what exactly is causing this stir, and why does a former royal family staffer believe this trip could be beneficial for the couple, who are keen to enhance their status as “celebrity royals”?
Why Meghan is reportedly ‘losing sleep’
During her time in Australia, the former Suits actress is slated to participate in a women-only event in Sydney. Tickets for this engagement, where Meghan will be interviewed on stage, are priced at $1,920 per person. Those opting for the VIP experience, featuring front-row seating and a group photo opportunity with the duchess, will pay $2,270.
According to a source speaking with the Australian publication, New Idea, Meghan was taken aback when the news of her appearance at the Sydney women’s retreat leaked before the official announcement. The source explained, “She prefers to have control, and the premature disclosure of her visit was far from the polished image she desires.”
The insider further noted, “Although a leak regarding their trip isn’t catastrophic, Meghan is anxious about what other private information about her and Harry might come to light.”
Former royal family employee says the Sussexes are trying to be ‘celebrity royals’
Grant Harrold was King Charles’ butler for seven years. During his time working for the now-monarch, Harrold’s duties included those of valet, housekeeper, house manager, and driver. He also looked after Prince Harry, Prince William, and Kate whenever they stayed at Highgrove House. Since leaving the royal household, he’s become one of the U.K.’s leading etiquette experts, a best-selling author, and a royal commentator. In 2025, he published his first book, The Royal Butler, which became an Amazon bestseller. He regularly appears on TV offering royal commentary on both current and historic news stories.
Speaking on behalf of Joe Fortune, Harrold told Showbiz Cheat Sheet. “It sounds like they are trying to crack Australia, which I think would be a really good idea for them. It’s a Commonwealth country, so it has strong ties to the U.K. and the royal family, and brings in the previous work both Harry and Meghan have done with the organization.
“It will be interesting to see how they are received when they arrive. There is a strong move at the moment to convince Australia to stay as part of the Commonwealth. It’s a very important country to the U.K., as the king is still the Head of State. You can guarantee that their visit will be watched very closely by the government and the Palace.”
Harrold also believes that the country holds a “special place” in the Sussexes’ hearts, saying, “Australia holds a special place in their hearts as it’s where they went for their first royal tour back in 2018, just a few months after their wedding. It was Harry’s first time showing Meghan that side of royal life, and while it was a very busy itinerary they would have spared lots of very special moments and memories. They visited Sydney, Melbourne, and Dubbo — and I would love to see them return to some of these places, and possibly even to some of the organisations to see how they’ve progressed in the past few years.”
The former royal butler opined that the duke and duchess will want to be seen as “celebrity royals” and the trip will follow the same format as the other tours they’ve done recently as it was not arranged through goverments, explaining, “I imagine this tour would be similar to ones they’ve done since quitting the royal family, a kind of celebrity royal tour. This means it looks very similar to a royal tour in all aspects — the same kind of engagements, the same meetings and photo ops — but it’s not arranged through the governments. I think they are trying to be ‘celebrity royals.’ They want the celebrity lifestyle and the freedom that brings, but I think Harry misses his old lifestyle of regular engagements, shaking hands, and meeting people.
“The king will be aware. I think, as relations continue to improve, Harry would have shared his plans with his father. I don’t think the royal family or the household will try to stop it or get involved in any way, but it obviously won’t have royal backing. I think they’ll just do their own thing.”