Harry and Meghan’s ‘Fake Royal’ Tour of Australia is OFFICIALLY a dud
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s high-profile visit to Australia has been officially labeled a failure, despite the couple privately framing the trip as a blueprint for their future outside the traditional royal structure.
If RadarOnline.com According to reports, the 41-year-old Duke of Sussex and his wife, 44, spent four days in Australia, where they undertook a mix of charity and commercial appearances, including a visit to the Australian War Memorial, meetings with survivors of the Bondi terror attack, and Markle’s appearance at MasterChef Australia.
The trip ended on April 17 and new polls show it failed to change public opinion.
Research by Roy MorganResponses from 1,767 Australians aged 18 and over showed that 81 percent of respondents said the visit did not improve their view of the couple, compared to just 19 percent who reported a more favorable impression.
A source said: “There was no shortage of attention on this trip – the tour was high profile and clearly reached a large audience – but that exposure didn’t translate into more support. If anything, it reinforced existing views rather than changing them, and this poll shows that.”
The figures also highlight wider skepticism about the couple’s position vis-à-vis the royal family.
Although Harry has spoken openly about stepping back from royal duties, and Markle has described himself as the “most cheated person in the world”, 69 percent of respondents said they did not believe the couple had been treated unfairly by the monarchy.
Meanwhile, 87 percent said the trip would do nothing to repair Harry’s relationship with his father, King Charles III, 77.
Sources suggested the lukewarm reception reflects continued uncertainty about the couple’s hybrid public role.
“There’s a sense that people are still not convinced by the royal family’s ‘half-in, half-out’ approach,” the insider noted.
“It can seem inconsistent – part royal tour, part commercial venture – and that ambiguity makes it harder for the public to connect with what Harry and Meghan are trying to do.”
Another source said the commercial elements of the trip may have undermined its impact.
They added: “Events such as the appearance at the Sydney festival, combined with the promotion of outfits linked to commission-based sales, risk giving the impression that serious engagements are being used to support personal branding. This can dilute the message and invite criticism, especially in sensitive contexts.”
During the visit, Markle attended a two-hour event in Sydney that was reportedly worth a six-figure sum, and later faced backlash after the outfit she wore to meet Bondi attack survivors was made available for purchase online through a platform in which she has a financial stake.
Items including a $440 striped shirt, $139 pair of jeans and $298 sneakers were promoted, with reports suggesting she could earn between 10 and 25 percent commission on sales.
A palace source said: ‘This trip feels like one of the clearest indications yet that Harry and Meghan are actively using their royal connections in a commercial context, and it has not gone unnoticed within royal circles. There is genuine concern behind the palace doors about how this affects the institution as a whole.
“Situations like these tend to intensify existing debates about where the line should be drawn, and whether Harry and Meghan’s continued use of royal titles remains appropriate or sustainable under these circumstances.”
Despite the criticism, those close to the couple have defended the significance of the trip.
A source said: “From the Sussexes’ perspective, this trip has actually been a real test of how their approach can work, and they believe it has delivered the results they were hoping for.
“There is a strong sense within their camp that they are on the right track – that stepping outside the traditional royal framework while simultaneously engaging in high-profile public work is both viable and sustainable. It has strengthened their confidence that this hybrid model, however it is labeled, can serve as a long-term blueprint for how they operate in the future.”
Another insider added that Harry remains unfazed by negative comments.
They said: “Harry has always believed that perception catches up with reality over time, and that consistency in how you come across is more important than any short-term criticism.
“His view is that the more opportunities people have to see them in different settings – whether through public engagement or direct interactions – the harder it will be to sustain the idea that there is a hidden motive behind their actions. He believes that those experiences will gradually speak for themselves and challenge the narrative that they are operating with whatever agenda they have.”
