Meghan Markle's carefully managed 'anti-diva' rebrand is facing an early test in Australia, where the Duchess of Sussex is fronting a high-priced wellness event in Sydney with tickets costing up to $1,900.
The appearance comes as she and Prince Harry travel through Melbourne, Canberra and Sydney on a trip critics have already branded a 'faux royal' tour.The visit follows weeks of preparation for the couple's first major return to Australia since their hugely successful 2018 royal tour.
This time, however, they are travelling as private citizens, mixing charity appearances with paid speaking engagements in a trip that appears designed to strengthen their post-royal brand.Inside Meghan Markle's 'Anti-Diva' Rebrand In AustraliaAustralia still holds a particular place in Meghan's public story.
During the 2018 tour, she was widely welcomed as a modern and energising addition to the monarchy, with large crowds turning out to see the couple.That image later took a hit after a string of anonymous allegations painted her as difficult behind the scenes.
While those claims remain disputed, the label of 'diva' has lingered long enough to shape how every new public appearance is now read.According to a source quoted by Heat, Meghan has gone to significant lengths to push back against that perception during the current visit.
The source claimed she has spent heavily on image consultants to help ensure she comes across as polished, warm and approachable.Her opening look in Australia, a sleek £600 gown by local designer Karen Gee, was reportedly chosen with that calculation in mind.
The choice allowed Meghan to present herself not only as stylish, but also as someone visibly embracing Australian fashion rather than floating above it.The same source described intense pressure behind the scenes.
Australia remains a core Commonwealth country, and any high-profile appearance by Harry and Meghan is likely to be judged against the formal role they once held within the royal family.That sensitivity is heightened by the suggestion that Prince William is privately unhappy with any Sussex trip that appears to blur the line between private celebrity travel and something that looks distinctly royal.
No palace official has commented publicly, but the tension sits in the background of the tour.Backlash Over $1,900 Tickets Clouds Meghan Markle's PushWhat makes this visit especially fraught is its openly commercial side.
Harry is due to deliver a keynote speech on workplace safety and mental health at the InterEdge Summit, where tickets are priced at around $700.Meghan, meanwhile, is the main attraction at 'Her Best Life', a women-only wellness retreat charging $1,900 per person.
Guests can also pay....
