Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s team have hit out at claims Australian taxpayers will be paying for their upcoming trip to the country.
Representatives for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have dismissed a petition signed by more than 34,000 people calling for no public money to be spent on their forthcoming Australian visit.
A spokesman for the couple stated: “The trip is being funded privately, so I’m not sure what this petition hopes to achieve.”
The Charge.org campaign, titled “No Taxpayer-Funding or Official Support for Harry & Meghan’s Private Visit to Australia,” was launched by advocacy group Beyond Australia ahead of the couple’s arrival next month.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s team have hit out at claims Australian taxpayers will be paying for their upcoming trip to the country.
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Prince Harry, 41, and Meghan, 44, are scheduled to travel Down Under for what organisers describe as private engagements.
Beyond Australia, the group behind the petition has argued that the couple’s activities are commercial in nature and should therefore be handled as an entirely private matter.
The organisation stated: “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.”
The advocacy group has called on the Australian government to refrain from providing taxpayer-funded security, logistical support or other official assistance during the Sussexes’ stay.
Prince Harry, 41, and Meghan, 44, are scheduled to travel Down Under for what organisers describe as private engagements.
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The Duchess of Sussex has been confirmed as a participant at the inaugural “Her Best Life Retreat” taking place in Sydney between 17 and 19 April, according to a spokesman who made the announcement on 19 March.
The women-only luxury gathering has already sold all available places, with approximately 300 attendees expected across the three-day programme.
Those who purchased VIP tickets will secure positions at the front during proceedings and have the opportunity to pose for a group photograph with Meghan at a gala evening hosted at the Intercontinental Hotel.
The Sussexes last visited Australia in 2018 as working royals, receiving police escorts and accommodation at the Governor-General’s residence overlooking Sydney Harbour.