Australians are demanding that Harry and Meghan pay for themselves on their quasi-royal visit by launching a fresh petition, which has already amassed thousands of signatures.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are set to arrive Down Under next month, but ahead of their trip, an advocacy group, Beyond Australia, has urged the government not to use taxpayer funds for the couple’s security, logistics and other requirements.
As of this evening, the petition on Change.org titled No Taxpayer-Funding or Official Support for Harry & Meghan’s Private Visit to Australia had reached a total of 32,715 signatures.
The group spearheading 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.’
It is not known whether taxpayers will fund Meghan and Harry’s visit, as both the federal and state governments in Australia have previously declined to confirm who would be responsible for their protection.
Harry, 41, and Meghan, 44, previously visited Australia in 2018 when they were both senior working members of the Royal Family.
The couple had a police escort wherever they went, and also stayed at the Governor-General’s residence, which overlooks the world-famous Sydney Harbour.
The recent petition comes after an Australian ‘ultimate girls’ weekend’, where Meghan was billed as the star guest, encountered more trouble in recent days.
Pictured: Prince Harry and Meghan during their visit to Jordan last February
Meghan is appearing at a women-only event in Sydney, which is described as a ‘girls’ weekend like no other’ – but the event has been rocked by problems ever since its launch
Last week, it was revealed that the hotel’s pool and spa are not finished, and the beach below has been battling effluent ‘poop balls’ for more than two years.
On March 19, a spokesman for the Duchess confirmed she will still be appearing at the inaugural ‘Her Best Life Retreat’ in Sydney despite setbacks.
The all-women event, dubbed ‘Meg-stock’, is set to welcome around 300 guests to the three-day luxury retreat between April 17 and 19.
The event has sold out, with VIP ticket holders able to bag front-row seats as well as a group photo with Meghan herself at the gala at the Intercontinental Hotel.
But the establishment overlooking Sydney’s Coogee beach, which describes itself as a ‘new era of beachside elegance’, is rushing to finish works in time for the event.
Recently, it emerged that the new infinity pool overlooking the Tasman Sea is still under construction. And the spa, bar and ‘leisure deck’ are also due to be completed next month.
One guest who stayed at the hotel last week called the refurbishment of the pool ‘a work in progress’ and a ‘blot on the view’, the Daily Mail can reveal.
And those wanting to relax on the beach below will also have concerns because, since 2024, foul-smelling balls made up of a mixture of chemicals, soap scum, cooking oil, hair and human excrement have been washing up.
The Daily Mail previously approached the hotel and the organisers for comment.
