Prince Harry and Meghan Markle arrived at Melbourne airport early Tuesday morning, beginning a four-day tour of Australia that blends charitable visits with high-priced commercial appearances.
The couple landed on a commercial Qantas flight from Los Angeles around 06:30. This marks their first visit to the country since 2018.
While the itinerary includes meetings with military veterans, medical professionals, and survivors of family violence, the trip also features significant private business engagements. Prince Harry is scheduled to deliver a keynote speech at the InterEdge Psychosocial Safety Summit in Melbourne, where individual tickets cost up to A$2,400.
In Sydney, the Duchess of Sussex will participate in a 'girls weekend' wellness retreat. Attendees of the event can pay up to A$3,199 for a VIP package that includes a group photograph with the Duchess.
Security and public funding
No public meet-and-greets are scheduled for the visit. Representatives for the couple stated they chose this format to minimize disruption to both the public and their host organizations.
Despite the couple traveling in a private capacity and stating the trip is self-funded, questions persist regarding the use of taxpayer money for security. The New South Wales Police Force confirmed it will conduct an operation to ensure public safety during the visit.
"The operation will require some additional security measures throughout their stay in New South Wales, while minimising any disruption to the community," a police spokesperson said.
Victoria Police stated they are aware of the high-profile visit and will deploy resources as necessary to ensure community safety. However, neither police service commented on whether Australian taxpayers will cover the costs of the increased security presence.
This visit follows recent legal challenges for the Duke of Sussex, including a defamation lawsuit filed by the African charity Sentebale, which he co-founded.