Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, were met with a hushed and gentle "hiii" from a crowd of staff and patients as they entered the Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne on Tuesday. This marked the first stop of their four-day Australian tour, their first visit to the country in eight years and since stepping back from royal duties in 2020.
A Quiet and Intimate Hospital Visit
The couple arrived just after midday, walking almost without ceremony into the hospital foyer. They greeted hospital management before making their way around an arc of well-wishers, paying particular attention to children. Upper-floor walkways were packed with people craning to see the interactions, as Harry and Meghan shook hands, spoke with medical workers, and offered hugs and waves to patients.
The couple paused for a selfie with a patient and her family, capturing a personal moment during the visit. They later visited the adolescent medicine ward, meeting young people with acute and chronic illnesses and those undergoing rehabilitation. The tour concluded with a group activity in one of the hospital's therapeutic gardens.
Meaningful Engagement and Historical Context
Dr. Peter Steer, the hospital's chief executive, described the visit as "a genuinely meaningful experience for our staff and for the young people receiving care." The Royal Children's Hospital has a history of royal visits, including from Queen Elizabeth II, who opened it in 1963, and from Prince Charles and Princess Diana in 1985.
When asked by a journalist what he most looked forward to in Australia, Harry simply replied, "everything," adding, "It's good to be back." This sentiment contrasted with the more commercial aspects of their tour.
Blending Public and Private Appearances
The couple's second engagement on Tuesday was at a centre providing homeless services for women, reflecting Meghan's commitment to community-led support for vulnerable women. However, other planned appearances are significantly more commercial and controversial.
Meghan is headlining an exclusive three-day women's retreat, pitched as a "girls' weekend like no other," with tickets costing $2,699 including accommodation or $3,199 for a VIP experience featuring a group photo with the duchess. Harry will be a keynote speaker at InterEdge's "psychosocial safety" summit, a professional development event where tickets range from $498 for virtual attendance to $2,378.65 for a platinum package. He is expected to discuss workplace mental health.
Shift in Public Perception and Funding Controversy
This tour is not an official royal visit, as the couple are no longer working members of the royal family. Giselle Bastin, an associate professor and royals researcher at Flinders University, noted a change in public sentiment. "Back in 2018, they were newly married, newly pregnant, and we were very, very excited," she said. "They had a glamour attached to them... but there's been so much fracture and unhappiness around the couple and their relationship with the royals... the celebrity shine has rather worn off."
Bastin added that the tour is seen by some as a "desperate attempt to monetise their status as royalty," referencing Meghan's reported comment in 2018 that she couldn't believe she "wasn't being paid for this."
Adding to the controversy, police confirmed that Australian taxpayers will cover additional security costs for the couple, contradicting assurances from their team that the visit would be privately funded. An online petition calling for taxpayers not to foot the bill has garnered over 45,000 signatures.
Comparing Past and Present Tours
In 2018, the couple were welcomed by rapturous crowds, lavish receptions, flower presentations, and a meeting with then-Prime Minister Scott Morrison. This time, the tour is expected to attract less attention and is framed more as a series of paid engagements rather than a state visit.
The blend of public goodwill visits and private, money-making appearances highlights the unique position Harry and Meghan now occupy—balancing their philanthropic interests with the financial realities of life outside the royal fold.
