A royal expert has criticised Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s upcoming Australian tour, claiming it goes against the late Queen Elizabeth’s wishes.
Royal author Tom Bower claimed the Duchess of Sussex is breaking a promise made to the monarch – who passed away in September 2022 – by going through with the planned visit Down Under.
Bower is behind the book Betrayal: Power, Deceit and the Fight for the Future of the Royal Family, which analyses the fractured relationship between the Sussexes and the British monarchy.
“First of all Meghan is doing it for money, it’s rather grubby…” he told The Daily Telegraph in a brutal spray.
“She’s monetising her royalty which I think is pretty shabby because she promised the Queen she wouldn’t do that,” he added.
The royal expert then made a prediction about the Sussexes’ upcoming Australian tour, painting a grim picture for the royals as they embark on their first visit to the country since 2018.
“I think they are going to find it much rougher than they anticipated when they arranged this trip,” he said, adding that he believes the trip is “clearly” a way to make money in order to boost their reputation.
Royal journalist Tom Sykes agreed with Bower’s forecast, warning that the couple will need to have “thick skins” when they fly to Australia next month, as they are “no longer assured of a warm welcome”.
Earlier this month, it was revealed that Meghan had been confirmed as the headline guest at a $3,000-a-ticket Sydney women’s retreat organised by Besties, an events company founded by Jackie ‘O’ Henderson and her friend Gemma O’Neill in 2023.
The former Suits actress will appear as a guest speaker at the three-day Her Best Life Retreat at Coogee’s InterContinental Hotel.
According to the website, the event will include “a gala dinner featuring an in-person conversation with Meghan”, and an opportunity for “powerful conversations, relaxation, laughter and unforgettable experiences”.
As well as travelling to Sydney, Meghan and Harry are also expected to visit Melbourne for “private, business and philanthropic engagements”.
The Duke of Sussex will appear as a keynote speaker at the InterEdge Summit, which aims to bring together “leaders, policymakers, practitioners and advocates” to “explore practical strategies for creating psychologically safe, mentally healthy and high-performing workplaces”.