More than 35,000 Australians have signed a petition demanding that no public funds be allocated towards the upcoming private visit of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, to the country. The petition, launched ahead of their scheduled arrival in April, has elicited a sharp response from the couple’s representatives, who maintain the visit will be entirely privately funded.
The Change.org petition, titled “No Taxpayer-Funding or Official Support for Harry & Meghan’s Private Visit to Australia,” was initiated by the advocacy group Beyond Australia. Its core demand is for the Australian government to refrain from providing taxpayer-funded security, logistical support, or any form of official assistance during the couple’s stay. Beyond Australia articulated its stance on the petition page, stating, “The activities are private and commercial and must be treated strictly as a private visit.”
The organizers also underscored the prevailing economic hardships faced by many Australians as a key motivator behind their campaign. The petition itself explicitly states, “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.” This sentiment reflects a broader public concern regarding fiscal prudence and equitable treatment in the allocation of national resources.
In response to the growing petition, a spokesman for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex issued a rebuttal on Wednesday, March 25, 2026. The spokesman emphatically declared that the trip would not draw on public money, rendering the petition’s concerns largely irrelevant. “It’s a moot point. The trip is being funded privately, so I’m not sure what this petition hopes to achieve,” the spokesman stated, directly addressing the central tenet of the campaign.
The spokesman further questioned the petition’s overall significance by drawing attention to Australia’s much larger population. He commented on the petition's perceived statistical impact, saying, “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 per cent of the population) who haven’t signed it, who must therefore agree with the taxpayer picking up the tab for their visit.” He then dismissed this hypothetical assertion as "equally stupid," aiming to diminish the petition’s representative value.
Despite these assurances from the couple’s representatives, both the Australian federal and state governments had previously declined to confirm who would ultimately bear the responsibility for the couple’s protection during their visit. This lack of official clarity has likely fueled public speculation and the petition's momentum, as security costs for high-profile individuals can be substantial.
Prince Harry, 41, and Meghan, 44, last visited Australia in 2018, during a period when they were still serving as senior working members of the Royal Family. That official tour saw them receive a police escort and stay at the Governor-General’s residence, which overlooks Sydney Harbour, with all associated costs typically covered by the public purse as part of their royal duties. However, the couple officially stepped away from their senior royal responsibilities in January 2020 and have since established private commercial ventures, primarily operating from the United States. This shift in status from working royals to private citizens engaged in commercial activities is central to the current debate over public funding.
The upcoming April visit is set to include separate events across two Australian cities, according to reporting by LBC. Prince Harry is scheduled to deliver a keynote address at the InterEdge Psychosocial Safety Summit, which will take place in Melbourne on April 15 and 16 at Centrepiece at Melbourne Park. Meanwhile, Meghan is confirmed to appear at the inaugural “Her Best Life Retreat” in Sydney, slated for April 17 to 19.
The Sydney event, informally dubbed “Meg-stock,” is described as an exclusive, all-women luxury gathering. It is expected to host approximately 300 guests over three days. Tickets for this high-end retreat have reportedly sold out, with prices ranging from AUD $2,699 to $3,199 per person. VIP ticket holders are promised front-row seating and access to a group photograph opportunity with Meghan at a gala evening, which will be held at the InterContinental Hotel in Sydney. The commercial nature and high price point of these events further underscore the "private and commercial" characterization made by the petition organizers, contrasting sharply with the expectation of public subsidy.
The ongoing discussion underscores the evolving public perception of high-profile individuals who have transitioned from public service roles to private commercial endeavors, particularly concerning the financial implications for host nations. The petition and the couple's response highlight a tension between public expectations of accountability and the desire of private citizens to manage their ventures independently.
