Just one day after Melburnians were able to secure a candid, and completely free, selfie with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex on the Scar Tree Walk, some guests attending the Her Best Life retreat in Sydney will have to pay extra if they want the same privilege.
Meghan Markle, 44, will appear at the women’s retreat on Friday night, held at the five-star InterContinental Hotel in Coogee and organised by Gemma O’Neill’s Besties company.
Standard tickets for the “luxury” weekend set fans back $2,699, in return for two nights in a hotel room shared with a stranger, food and drink, wellness activities, and an “in-person conversation” with Meghan at a gala dinner.
Meanwhile, those paying $3,199 for a “VIP experience” will get a “group table photo” with the duchess and a hotel room to themselves.
Earlier this week, standard guests were offered the opportunity to upgrade their tickets for an additional $330 so they could take a group pic with Meghan, as reported by HELLO!
This has sparked some backlash among fans after Meghan and Harry posed for countless photos free of charge during their tour of Australia this week.
“Aren’t the folk going to this retreat gonna be a bit p***** off that they paid three grand just for a group pic with Meghan, yet [these people] can swim up and get one for free?” one person asked on social media.
“This has got to be the scam of the century. Attendees fooled into paying big bucks for a weekend with Meghan… I’d be calling for a refund,” another echoed.
According to the retreat itinerary, Meghan will only be attending the retreat for a few hours, beginning with VIP photos at 4.30pm and the gala dinner at 5pm.
Meghan and Harry are also expected to attend the the Super Rugby match at Allianz Stadium, which begins at 7.30pm, so she’ll need to leave Coogee in good time if she wants to make kick off.
The fleeting appearance has sparked some questions as to whether guests purchasing tickets for the advertised “Her Best Life retreat with Meghan” are getting their money’s worth.
However, some have pointed out that the price tag also includes “accommodation, food, activities and other guest speakers”, and one person argued: “So what if someone wants to fork out $3,200 to see Meghan or anyone else. It’s their money.”
Others highlighted how the Besties event with Gwyneth Paltrow in 2023 was also highly priced, with tickets costing up to $2,500 for VIP packages, which included photo ops with the actress.
The Her Best Life retreat has a strict “no phones, no recording moment” policy for the duration of Meghan’s in-conversation interview.
Organiser Gemma O’Neill said she is “so excited” to welcome the duchess, and insisted the Suits actress’s appearance has stemmed from genuine enthusiasm.
“She’s doing it because she really loves what our community is about, which is women trying to grow, try to be their best selves and trying to help other women,” she said.