Prince Harry has been caught on camera making a quick dash for the exit at Meghan Markle’s exclusive girls’ retreat in Sydney- just moments before a disco party got underway.
The 41-year-old accompanied the Duchess of Sussex, 44, to her paid appearance at the Her Best Life retreat at the Intercontinental Coogee Hotel on Friday.
While attendees were subject to a strict “no phones, no recording moment” policy during Meghan’s on-stage interview with event organiser Gemma O’Neill, newly surfaced footage filmed by a VIP guest appears to show Harry wasting no time making his exit once proceedings wrapped up.
In the clip, shared by businesswoman and attendee Liliana Sanelli on social media, Harry is seen shaking hands with a man near the stage before avoiding eye contact with the crowd, who had just applauded Meghan following her 90-minute discussion with O’Neill.
He is then swiftly escorted out of the room ahead of a disco party set to begin.
“It’s not every day you can say you meet someone as beautiful as Meghan Markle,” Ms Sanelli captioned the post.
“Oh yes Harry was in the room & they are definitely beautiful as a couple and in love. So divine.”
It’s understood Meghan did not attend the three-course dinner and disco party that followed her appearance, instead remaining at the retreat- where she was the headline act- for a maximum of two hours.
The Sussexes were later spotted at the Waratahs-Moana Pasifika rugby match at ANZ Stadium, which kicked off at around 7:30pm.
According to Sydney Morning Herald reporter Courtney Thompson, Meghan was escorted onto the stage by Harry as ‘Freedom’ by George Michael played in the background.
She then joined O’Neill for a conversation in front of what was described as “a rapt audience of more than 200 women”, covering topics including her “career, family life and the trappings of fame”.
However, questions about her former royal life were reportedly “off the table”.
“I’ve spent all my life investing in women, can I finally invest in me?” the duchess reportedly asked the audience – some of whom had paid $3199 for entry, which included a group photo opportunity.
Guests also received a gift bag valued at just under $200, containing a mix of wellness products, beauty items and merchandise from Meghan’s As Ever brand.
Inside a branded Her Best Life tote was a $21 tin of edible flower sprinkles and the ‘Hold That Thought’ leather bookmark, which currently retails for $28 on the As Ever website.
Other items included Quick Flick’s Tri-Peptide Lip Butter Glaze ($18), a $21 Hunter Traveller candle, a $39 Love Tea gift set, and $4.50 Funday strawberry and cream lollies.
Rounding out the bundle were a pink ‘Find Your Joy’ journal and a cobalt blue Her Best Life cap.
The perceived mismatch between the ticket price and the gift bag contents quickly drew criticism online, with one social media user branding it “daylight robbery”.
“It’s giving TJ Maxx clearance section,” joked another.
While some attendees, including Ms Sanelli, who travelled from Melbourne, praised the event as a success, others expressed disappointment over what they described as Meghan’s brief appearance.
“Front desk complaints already coming in… People paid thousands for a girls’ weekend with Meghan, not a short two-hour appearance,” one source told Wonderwall.
Another source claimed the Duchess was present for even less time.
“A friend of mine is absolutely furious… she paid all that money and was promised a whole weekend full of fun, food, drinks and activities- only to find out Meghan stayed 30 minutes,” the source claimed.
The guest was allegedly left feeling “confused as to what was happening”, with expectations of greater access to the As Ever founder.
However, Ms Sanelli told the Sydney Morning Herald the Q&A session between Meghan and O’Neill was “f***ing fantastic”.
“The majority of the women I spoke to last night were completely mesmerised by it,” she said.
“She converted a room of people who came in going, ‘I’m not sure what to expect’.”
Before departing the retreat, Meghan was presented with a lavish parting gift on stage- an original artwork valued at $6000.
The acrylic-on-canvas piece, framed in Tasmanian oak and created by Australian artist Emma Martin, was gifted by O’Neill as a sentimental keepsake of the event.
O’Neill said the artwork was intended to “remind you of your time on the beach with a group of women that have your back”.
“I want you to have it at home, if you’re ever having a bad day, you just need to look at that painting and know that we see you for who you really are,” O’Neill told Markle as the audience erupted in applause.