Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are back in Australia after a long gap, and their visit is already drawing public attention. From scheduled appearances to speaking engagements, the couple’s trip is being closely followed.But beyond the events themselves, one simple question is being asked again and again. Since they are no longer working members of the royal family, how is this visit being funded?
What their Australia visit includes
The couple’s current trip features a mix of different engagements.As reported by PEOPLE, Meghan is expected to lead a podcast-related “girls weekend” event in Sydney. Meanwhile, Harry will be speaking at a summit in Melbourne focused on workplace mental health.
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These appearances include private, business, and social commitments during the visit.
Their last visit to Australia
Meghan and Harry last visited Australia in October 2018. At that time, they were still active members of the royal family.That visit was part of an official royal tour and included their appearance at the Invictus Games in Sydney. It also became widely noted when they announced they were expecting their first child during that trip.
The key change in 2020
In early 2020, the couple stepped back from their roles as senior members of the royal family. As mentioned in the report, at that time, they stated that they would “no longer receive funding through the Sovereign Grant.”The Sovereign Grant is the system that funds official royal duties using public money.
How the current trip is being funded
Since they are no longer part of the working royal structure, their current Australia visit is not funded through the Sovereign Grant.As per the publically available information and as highlighted by PEOPLE, the trip is being privately funded. This means the couple is managing the expenses on their own.
What Prince Harry had said earlier
In a 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey, Prince Harry spoke about his financial situation after stepping back from royal duties.As mentioned in the report, he said the royal family “literally cut me off financially” and also added, “Without that, we wouldn’t have been able to do this,” referring to support from his late mother, Princess Diana.Thumb image: X
