The Duchess of Sussex is heading back to Australia, and this time she is bringing a price tag to match the occasion. Meghan is set to appear as the headline speaker at a women only three day retreat in Sydney this April, with standard tickets starting at roughly £1,400 per person and VIP seats climbing to around £1,700.
The event, organized by the Her Best Life podcast, will be held at a five star hotel on Coogee Beach in Sydney’s eastern suburbs and is capped at 300 attendees. Meghan is billed as the special guest speaker, with her appearance taking the form of a fireside style conversation. VIP ticket holders will also receive front row seating and a group photo with the duchess.
The weekend is being described as an unforgettable experience for women ready to reconnect, recharge and have some serious fun. Activities include sessions with a psychologist, yoga, sound healing, a disco night, and a meditation and manifestation workshop.
Meghan’s return to Australia carries a complicated backdrop
The April visit will mark the first time Meghan and Prince Harry have returned to Australia since their celebrated 2018 tour, when they were still senior working royals. That 16 day trip was the newly married couple’s first major overseas engagement and arrived alongside the announcement that Meghan was pregnant. The pair visited Bondi Beach, sailed Sydney Harbour, and were met with enormous public enthusiasm at nearly every stop.
A spokesperson for the couple confirmed this upcoming trip will focus on private, business and philanthropic engagements, though the retreat appearance signals that the business component is front and center.
The Netflix chapter quietly closes
The Sydney announcement arrives just days after Meghan’s lifestyle brand, As Ever, confirmed it had ended its partnership with Netflix. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex had signed a multiyear deal with the streaming platform in 2020, reported to be worth around $100 million, following their departure from royal duties.
Meghan’s cooking and lifestyle show With Love, Meghan ran for two series and a Christmas special but struggled to find a significant audience. The show’s underwhelming reception made the end of the Netflix arrangement feel less like a breakup and more like an expiration.
The podcast behind the event
Her Best Life was co-founded by Gemma O’Neill, a former producer who worked with actress Nicole Kidman, and prominent Australian radio personality Jackie Henderson. Henderson recently stepped back from her role as co-host, leaving O’Neill to carry the show forward on her own. O’Neill confirmed Meghan’s participation during a recent episode, describing the duchess as someone who genuinely connects with the community’s focus on women striving to grow and become better versions of themselves.
A family rift still in the background
Much has shifted for Meghan and Prince Harry since their last Australian visit. The couple stepped away from royal duties in 2020, citing family tensions and concerns about relentless media attention before relocating to the United States. Prince Harry has spoken openly about a strained relationship with his father, King Charles, and expressed hope for a future reconciliation with the Royal Family.
Whether the Australia trip brings any movement on that front remains to be seen. For now, at least, Meghan’s calendar is full and Sydney is waiting.
