Top News

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been dealt a fresh setback ahead of their upcoming trip to Australia. New polling suggests enthusiasm for the couple's visit has cooled since their hugely popular royal tour in 2018.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were greeted by cheering crowds during their last trip to Australia shortly after their wedding, when thousands of fans gathered to catch a glimpse of the pair during engagements across the country. However, public sentiment appears to have shifted in the years since they stepped back from royal duties.

A survey of almost 10,000 readers conducted by Yahoo Lifestyle Australia found that 67% of respondents said they were not excited about the couple returning to the country.

Royal commentator Kinsey Schofield said attitudes toward the couple may have changed following their decision to leave royal life and move to the United States.

Speaking about the reaction to their planned visit, Schofield suggested the warmth the couple once enjoyed in Australia has diminished in recent years.

"Australia maintains a deep emotional connection to the monarchy, and the Royal Family continues to symbolise continuity and tradition within the Commonwealth," she said.

"When Harry and Meghan spend years publicly criticising the institution and members of the family, it inevitably creates friction with audiences in countries that still hold that institution in high regard."

The Sussexes stepped back from their roles as working royals in 2020 and relocated to California, where they now live with their two children, Prince Archie of Sussex and Princess Lilibet of Sussex.

*** Ensure our latest royal headlines always appear at the top of your Google Search by making us a Preferred Source. Click here to activate or just add us as Preferred Source in your Google search settings. ***

Since leaving royal duties, the couple have given a high-profile interview with Oprah Winfrey and Harry released his memoir Spare, both of which included candid revelations about life inside the monarchy.

Schofield said the reception the couple received during their 2018 tour of Australia was "nothing short of euphoric", with huge crowds and overwhelmingly positive media coverage.

However, she suggested that years of public criticism directed at the royal institution may have altered how some audiences now view the couple.

Despite the mixed reaction, the Sussexes are still expected to travel to Australia next month for a series of engagements.

Details of the trip remain limited, but it is understood the visit will include a mixture of private, business and philanthropic appearances.

Meghan is due to headline a women's retreat organised by the Her Best Life Podcast, taking place at the InterContinental Sydney Coogee Beach between April 17 and 19. The event will host around 300 attendees, with ticket packages costing several thousand dollars.

Meanwhile, Harry will travel to Melbourne to deliver a keynote speech at the InterEdge Psychosocial Safety Summit, which focuses on mental health and workplace safety.

It is understood that the couple's children will not be joining them on the trip.