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Meghan Markle's not 'cashing in' after fans spend £1,700 for two hours at gala
Reach Daily Express | April 18, 2026 8:40 PM CST

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry arrived in Australia for a four day trip. The Duchess of Sussex, 44, is reportedly earning up to £130,000 for turning up to the women-only aptly titled Her Best Life retreat on the final day of her Australian tour with her husband. Meghan's Sydney women's retreat reportedly cost ticketholders $3000 (AUD), £1,700.

Meghan's appearance at the three-day retreat was revealed shortly after the annoucement was made about the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's Australian tour. Although the event will also take place on April 18 and 19, Meghan's appearance on the second and third day are unknown.

After 120 minutes at the gala, which was dubbed "Megstock", the duchess was spotted leaving the venue with her husband shortly after 7pm, as she was spotted with Harry in the back of a Range Rover.

Olivia Bennett, Digital PR Director at SEO and PR agency Go Up, spoke exclusively to Express.co.uk, ahead of the Sussexes' trip Down Under and suggested the move can not simply be considered as "cashing in" on their royal titles.

Olivia explained: "Events like the Sydney retreat actually align closely with the type of public role Meghan has been building since stepping back from royal duties.

She has increasingly focused on conversations around wellbeing, female empowerment and personal resilience, and a retreat setting allows for a more controlled and thoughtful environment than a traditional media appearance."

She continues: "The ticket price will naturally attract headlines, but that doesn't necessarily make the model unusual. Retreat-style events often bundle together workshops, accommodation and curated experiences, so attendees are paying for the overall programme rather than just a single talk. For many, the value is in the experience as a whole."

Olivia suggested that while Harry and Meghan are no longer working royals they still hold their Sussex title, which unfortunately can lead to complaints of "cashing in".

"Where it becomes more complex is perception," she explained. "Meghan and Harry are operating between two identities. They're no longer working royals, but they still hold royal titles, and that creates a level of expectation around how they show up publicly.

Olivia said, "When those lines aren't clearly defined, it can lead to accusations of 'cashing in', even when the format itself is standard for that kind of event."

She adds: "Australia is also a meaningful setting for them. Their 2018 royal tour was widely seen as one of their most successful, so returning now in a private capacity allows them to reconnect with that audience and demonstrate how their global profile translates outside the royal framework."

According to reports, excited paying guests had started turning up at the five-star beachside hotel in Sydney's eastern suburbs from 3pm due to the strict security arrangements, with the official event kicking off at 5pm.

Prince Harry and Meghan's last visit to Australia was in 2018, a few months after their marriage.

During that visit, the couple spent around nine days in the country and large crowds gathered to greet them during their public visits.


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