Meghan Markle christened ‘Sarah Ferguson 2.0’ during a royal trip
RadarOnline.com can reveal Meghan Markle is being branded ‘Sarah Ferguson 2.0’ by critics after agreeing to headline an expensive women’s event during a trip to Australia as part of her latest ‘faux royal’ tour.
The ambitious Markle, 44, and her husband Prince Harry, 41, will travel Down Under next month for what are described as “private, business and philanthropic” engagements.
The visit marks the couple’s first time back in the country since their official royal tour in 2018, when they were working members of the British royal family. Among the planned engagements is a women-only weekend retreat in Sydney, where Markle will appear as the keynote speaker at the dinner on April 17.
The three-day retreat, which costs approximately $1,923 per participant, is designed for women interested in networking, personal development and leadership. Markle is not expected to be present for the entire weekend, but will serve as a speaker and address guests about her experiences living in the public eye and navigating life under intense media scrutiny.
The engagement has drawn fierce criticism from some royal observers who say the event mirrors the kind of paid speaking engagements once associated with Ferguson, 66, the disgraced former Duchess of York.
A royal insider said critics have started making direct comparisons between Markle and Ferguson’s “money-grabbing” schemes.
The source added: “Within royal circles, some people say Meghan is starting to look like the next Sarah Ferguson. Sarah is known for going to extreme and questionable lengths for quick and easy money, and they see this in the same vein.
“They’re nicknamed Meghan ‘Sarah 2.0’ and say she’s trading in her ‘fake royal’ status for an easy payday. It’s all a bit sad, really.”
The insider added that the optics of the appearance are also under scrutiny due to Markle and Harry’s royal status.
They said: ‘When you have a duchess who is no longer a working royal starring in an expensive retreat abroad, there’s inevitably going to be a conversation about whether it feels like a fake royal tour.
“Some people say this blurs the line between private business ventures and the kinds of assignments royals carried out in an official capacity.”
Another observer said the criticism reflects long-standing tensions surrounding Markle and Harry’s decision to step back from their royal duties in 2020.
The Observer said: “Some critics have the impression that these trips are like royal visits, but without the official support, which is why the Sarah Ferguson comparison keeps coming up in conversations.”
However, the event organizer has strongly defended Markle’s involvement, suggesting the Duchess is participating largely out of personal support for the community organizing the retreat.
Gemma O’Neill, the organizer of the Sydney event, said she admired Meghan’s resilience in the face of public criticism.
“I admire this woman and what she has endured,” she said. O’Neill also stated that Markle agreed to participate in the event largely due to a personal connection.
She said she believed the Duchess “has shown how a woman can be pushed down and still get back up,” adding, “I’m so flattered that she’s actually doing this as a favor on behalf of our mutual friend.”
O’Neill also said the Duchess was drawn to the purpose of the retreat itself.
She continued, “She does it because she really loves what our community stands for: women trying to grow, be the best they can be and try to help other women.”
During their 2018 visit to Oz, Markle and Harry carried out a series of official engagements across the country as representatives of the British monarchy. However, the upcoming visit will take place in a personal capacity.
It’s understood that while Markle will be making a number of solo appearances, the couple is also expected to attend several engagements together during their time in Australia.
