Australians have launched a new petition urging that Prince Harry and Meghan fund their own upcoming visit, with the campaign quickly attracting significant support online. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are due to arrive next month, and advocacy group Beyond Australia is calling on the government not to provide taxpayer-funded security, logistics or other official assistance.
As of this evening, the Change.org petition titled No Taxpayer-Funding or Official Support for Harry & Meghan’s Private Visit to Australia had reached 32,715 signatures. Beyond Australia argues the trip should be treated as a private matter, saying: “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.’”
Questions had been raised about whether public funds might be used, after both federal and state governments previously declined to confirm who would cover protection arrangements. It is now understood the Sussexes’ Australia trip is being privately funded.
Harry, 41, and Meghan, 44, last visited Australia in 2018 when they were senior working members of the Royal Family. During that tour, they had a police escort for engagements and stayed at the Governor-General’s residence overlooking Sydney Harbour.
The renewed attention comes as a separate Sydney event featuring Meghan has faced scrutiny. Meghan is scheduled to appear at the inaugural Her Best Life Retreat, an all-women, three-day event in Sydney from April 17 to 19, expected to host about 300 guests. On March 19, a spokesperson for the Duchess confirmed she will still attend despite reported setbacks at the venue. The retreat has reportedly sold out, with VIP ticket holders offered front-row seats and a group photo with Meghan at a gala at the Intercontinental Hotel.
Reports suggest the Coogee beachfront hotel is still completing works, including an infinity pool, and that the spa, bar and leisure deck are due for completion next month. Concerns have also been raised about repeated incidents at the nearby beach since 2024 involving foul-smelling balls said to contain a mixture of chemicals, soap scum, cooking oil, hair and human waste.
A spokesperson for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex dismissed the petition’s premise, saying: “It’s a moot point. The trip is being funded privately, so I’m not sure what this petition hopes to achieve… ‘Of course, if you wanted to dive into the ridiculousness of this petition as an agenda for spreading misinformation, then one could equally hypothesise that there are approximately 26.5 million Australians (99.98% of the population) who haven’t signed it, who must therefore agree with the tax-payer picking up the tab for their visit. ‘Of course, that is another equally stupid assertion to make but hey, why let common sense get in the way of a good story… ‘”
