Seven years after their last visit, Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, are preparing for a return to Australia in mid-April. The trip, encompassing both personal engagements and professional commitments, is slated to include stops in Sydney and Melbourne, according to reports. While details remain somewhat limited, expectations are mounting for an appearance related to Australia’s military community, given Prince Harry’s longstanding ties to the armed forces.
However, the reception awaiting the couple is expected to be markedly different from the enthusiastic welcome they received during their 2018 royal tour. A shift in public sentiment, coupled with ongoing debates surrounding the monarchy’s future, suggests a more complex atmosphere. Journalist Tom Sykes, writing on his Substack, The Royalist, anticipates the couple will “need thick skins” as they navigate a country where a warm reception is no longer guaranteed.
The Sussexes’ visit arrives at a sensitive moment for the British royal family. The trip is poised to reignite Australia’s ongoing conversation about its relationship with the monarchy and its constitutional future, with Sykes suggesting they will act as “lightning rods” in this debate. An insider familiar with the situation indicated that the visit will likely spark questions about the infrequent visits from other members of the royal family, particularly the Prince and Princess of Wales.
The planned trip follows an invitation extended by King Charles to Prince William and Catherine to visit Australia, offered during a meeting with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese last September. Plans for that visit, initially slated for July or August, have reportedly stalled, allowing Harry and Meghan to develop their return first, Vanity Fair reports.
A Changed Landscape Since 2018
The 2018 tour marked a significant moment for the couple, with large crowds turning out to greet them and Meghan’s approachable demeanor resonating with the Australian public. It was during this visit that they announced they were expecting their first child, Archie. Prince Harry later described the tour as a turning point, noting it was the first time his family truly recognized his wife’s capabilities and her potential as an asset to the Commonwealth.
However, author Valentine Low, in his book Courtiers: The Hidden Power Behind the Crown, presented a more nuanced picture. While acknowledging Meghan’s positive reception, Low wrote that she appeared to struggle with the purpose of royal walkabouts and engaging with large crowds. Meghan has consistently denied claims of bullying made by palace staff detailed in the book, stating she herself was the target of bullying behavior.
The goodwill generated during the 2018 tour quickly dissipated following the couple’s decision to step back as senior royals in 2020, a move known as “Megxit.” Their subsequent appearance on British soil, at a service honoring Queen Elizabeth II in 2022, was met with audible boos from some attendees, The Sun notes.
Questions Remain About Family Attendance
It remains unconfirmed whether Prince Harry and Meghan’s children, six-year-old Archie and four-year-old Lilibet, will accompany them on the trip to Australia. The couple currently resides in Montecito, California and a decision regarding their children’s attendance has not yet been publicly announced.
The upcoming visit is expected to draw attention to the broader issue of royal tours and the distribution of engagements among members of the royal family. The absence of other royals in recent years has fueled speculation and debate, and the Sussexes’ trip is likely to intensify these discussions.
As Harry and Meghan prepare to return to Australia, they face a landscape significantly altered from the one they experienced in 2018. The visit promises to be a closely watched event, not only for its personal significance to the couple but also for its potential to further shape the ongoing conversation about the monarchy’s role in the Commonwealth.
The trip’s impact on the broader debate surrounding Australia’s constitutional future remains to be seen. What comes next will depend on the tone of the visit and the response from both the Australian public and the royal family.
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