The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s security during their upcoming visit to Australia should not be funded by the taxpayer, a petition with thousands of signatures has demanded.
In a move that could overshadow the couple’s arrival next month, a campaign launched by an advocacy group has urged the Australian government not to use public resources to provide security, logistics or government co-ordination.
By Tuesday morning, the Change.org petition had received 32,407 signatures.
Meghan greets a koala on a visit to Taronga Zoo SydneyPaul Edwards/The Sun
Meghan is due to host a wellness weekend for women at a five-star hotel in Sydney for which ticket prices start at about £1,400, while Prince Harry is expected to speak at a psychosocial safety conference in Melbourne.
Beyond Australia, the group behind the campaign, said: “The activities are private and commercial and must be treated strictly as a private visit.
“At a time when Australians are facing significant cost of living pressures, including rising grocery bills, fuel prices, mortgage stress driven by interest rate hikes, and increasing energy costs, public resources must be used responsibly and applied fairly without special treatment for high-profile individuals.”
Daily Briefing newsletter
Get our top stories and exclusive analysis sent straight to your inbox every morning.
Sign up with one click
The last time the couple visited Australia was in 2018, when they were senior working members of the royal family. They stayed at the governor-general’s residence overlooking Sydney Harbour and were given a police escort wherever they went. Their presence received widespread public support.
Harry and Meghan in Sydney HarbourChris Jackson/Getty Images for the Invictus Games Foundation
Ticket sales for Meghan’s “Her Best Life Retreat”, a three-day event that has sold out, could help to finance the trip.
VIP ticket holders are entitled to front-row seats and a group photograph when Meghan speaks at a gala dinner at the newly-built Intercontinental Hotel overlooking Sydney’s Coogee beach.
The hotel is rushing to complete its lavish facilities, described on its website as “a new era of beachside elegance”, in time for Meghan’s arrival. Its “phased opening date” is scheduled for next month.
However, the marketing may not live up to expectations. Residents recently reported an unpleasant smell from brown balls washed up on the beach. They are believed to originate in Sydney’s sewage system and to contain a combination of cooking oil, soap scum and human waste.