The chasm between Harry and Meghan has never been so stark. A single day on their Australia tour proves they are on different paths: SHARON HUNT
A single day of the Sussexes’ tour of Australia tells me everything I need to know about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle‘s visions for the future.
While their married life in Montecito may be rosy, there seems to be a misalignment in how they see their roles as public figures.
Prior to the non-working royal couple’s arrival in Melbourne on Tuesday, a broad itinerary of their plans and whereabouts was made public.
But there were gaps in the schedule, especially when it came to their respective moves for Wednesday. What ended up happening that day took me by surprise, and suggested the Duke and Duchess had altogether different goals for the trip.
Let me explain.
Harry’s schedule for Wednesday, April 15, saw him meet the Movember team at the Western Bulldogs HQ, then dash to Canberra to visit the Australian War Memorial, meet with Indigenous veterans, attend a reception for Invictus Australia and take part in the Last Post ceremony.
Throughout it all, Harry looked every inch the royal on tour: whether he was discussing mental health, punting an AFL footy, or solemnly laying a wreath.
This mix of engagements – and Harry’s princely presence throughout – was straight from the royal tour playbook. A reminder, in many ways, of his former role in The Firm.
On April 15, Prince Harry went solo to the Australian War Memorial and was pictured laying a wreath at the Last Post Ceremony
Hours earlier, Prince Harry met with the Movember organisation at Mission Whitten Oval and participated in an AFL session with the Western Bulldogs
Prince Harry also delivered a speech at the Invictus Australia reception
His years of experience shone through as he engaged with everyday Aussies, from children to war veterans, sports stars to esteemed public figures.
It was a masterclass in what we’ve come to expect of any working royal, even if he no longer technically is one. It also reminded us just how skilled Harry is at winning hearts and minds in situations perfectly matched to his interests, passions and values – something his mother Princess Diana also did so well.
The only thing missing, really, was Buckingham Palace’s rubber-stamp approval.
It would later emerge that day that Meghan had been busy filming a guest appearance for the reality TV cooking show MasterChef Australia.
It was a hush-hush operation, with no prior announcement of Meghan’s specific plans for the day. Those in the media suspected she had a commercial engagement in the works – but the big reveal nonetheless came as a surprise.
The contrast of Harry delivering the royal treatment while Meghan spent the day on a television shoot was stark indeed.
A day earlier, the Sussexes had put on a united front for their first event of the tour: a visit to the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne.
Drawing crowds of onlookers, the couple smiled, waved and greeted enthusiastic fans. Even cynics have to admit Harry and Meghan shine at these semi-royal outings – their chemistry with each other and the public is unmistakable.
On April 15, Network Ten broke the news that the Duchess of Sussex had filmed a guest appearance on the new season of MasterChef Australia
A clip from the show saw Meghan welcomed warmly to the MasterChef Australia kitchen
MasterChef judges Sofia Levin (left), Poh Ling Yeow (centre) and Jean-Christophe Novelli (right) were delighted to welcome the royal as a special guest
But when they branch out separately like they did the next day – Harry focusing on veterans, mental health and charity, and Meghan in her glamorous TV world – I can’t help but be reminded that, for all the love between them, they really do come from different worlds.
Mere hours after watching Harry perfect the art of being a royal, the (very Aussie) question many of us were asking was: ‘Where the bloody hell are ya, Meg?’
The revelation came via Network Ten, which broke the story on its evening news bulletin by sharing official show promos of Meghan making her grand entrance into the MasterChef kitchen.
In the clip, judge and former MasterChef contestant Poh Ling Yeow couldn’t help but shriek as she introduced ‘the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle!’
Meghan will feature in the upcoming eighteenth season, which is still being filmed.
The million-dollar question is how much she was paid for her appearance.
It’s highly unlikely she did it for free, simply to promote her brand As Ever, but some six-figure estimations doing the rounds seem way off the mark, in my view.
Meghan and Prince Harry’s first appearance was as a double act at the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne
On April 14, the Sussexes warmly greeted the throngs of crowds who gathered to meet them
What stood out, though, was the chasm between Harry’s community efforts and Meghan indulging her main-character energy as a TV star for the day.
In the space of 24 hours, the tension between near-royal status and commercial ambition was laid bare.
Of course, there’s nothing wrong with Meghan, a well-known foodie, appearing on MasterChef Australia, widely regarded as the best iteration of the global franchise. Rather, it was the timing – her glossy reveal set against her husband’s day of solemn service – that gave me pause.
And I suspect I was not alone.
My mind instantly went back to the high-stakes Sandringham summit of January 2020, when Harry, Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Charles, and Prince William discussed Harry and Meghan’s bold proposal for a ‘half-in, half-out’ royal role – allowing them to pursue personal projects while retaining the aspects of royal duty that suited them.
In one of the defining acts of her final years in charge, the Queen – with Charles and William’s support – stood firm: there would be no half-way royals on her watch.
Her statement released afterwards affirmed: ‘Harry and Meghan have made it clear that they do not want to be reliant on public funds in their new lives.’
Fast forward six years to this ongoing not-so-regal tour, and it appears they are now attempting precisely what they set out to do all along.
But how long can they continue to straddle commercial ventures and royal-style philanthropy? Personally, I am unconvinced the model is remotely sustainable.
And I’d wager a MasterChef immunity pin that The Firm is equally sceptical.
