Australian taxpayers will fund some of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s upcoming tour of Australia, despite their team insisting otherwise.
Representatives of the couple previously dismissed the claims after thousands of Aussies signed a petition last month demanding no public money be spent on the forthcoming tour.
“The trip is being funded privately, so I’m not sure what this petition hopes to achieve,” a spokesman for the couple said.
However, police in Victoria and New South Wales (NSW) have now confirmed they will provide security operations in the region for the private tour, according to the Sunday Morning Herald.
“The New South Wales Police Force will conduct an operation to ensure public safety is maintained during the visit by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex,” an NSW force spokesman said.
“The operation will require some additional security measures throughout their stay in New South Wales, while minimising any disruption to the community.”
While NSW Police provide many of its services free of charge, private events that require additional security often demand event organisers to bear the extra expense, through an agreement between the force and organiser.
In the case of Harry and Meghan, there is no such agreement, meaning the security will be added to the NSW Police’s expenditure.
Australian taxpayers will fund some of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s upcoming tour of Australia, despite their team insisting otherwise
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A Victoria Police spokesman said: “Police routinely assess events and visits and will deploy resources as necessary to ensure community safety.
“Victoria Police does not provide comment on specific operational arrangements.”
The “No Taxpayer-Funding or Official Support for Harry & Meghan’s Private Visit to Australia” campaign was launched by advocacy group Beyond Australia through website Change.org. More than 43,000 have now signed the petition.
When learning of the added police presence at the taxpayers’ expense, they wrote on their petition page: “This directly contradicts those assurances and raises serious concerns about transparency and the use of public resources.
Prince Harry and wife Meghan Markle last visited Australia in 2018, just months after their lavish wedding
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“There have also been suggestions of heightened ‘security concerns’ surrounding Meghan Markle’s Sydney retreat, including claims that online trolls may attend or attempt to take photographs.
“Australians are entitled to question this.
“How does taking photos at a publicly advertised, ticketed event constitute a security threat?
“This appears to be a narrative fed to the media to elevate perceived risk, now being used to justify taxpayer-funded police and security.”
They added that taking photos is “normal behaviour” that “does not warrant public resources.”
Harry and Meghan previously travelled Down Under in 2018, just months after their lavish, high-profile wedding at Windsor Castle.
At the time, the couple were working members of the Royal Family, and therefore received 24-hour police protection from the UK, with assistance from the Australian Federal Police.
This, in addition to transport and accommodation, cost Australian taxpayers a total of AUD$410,580 (£215,000), according to The Sunday Herald.
The couple’s last trip Down Under is estimated to have cost Australian taxpayers a total of $410,580
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This time around, after stepping away from their royal duties, the Sussexes are instead to embark on a private venture.
Meghan has publicly advertised a private ticketed event in Sydney titled “Her Best Life,” held between April 17 and 19.
Tickets listed for the event range from approximately AUD $2,699 to $3,199 (£1,400 to £1680) per person.