Prince Harry and Meghan Face Australia Snub Claims
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have faced renewed scrutiny after commentary in Australia suggested their recent four-day visit failed to cut through with the public, despite the couple completing engagements in Melbourne and Sydney.
Speaking on TalkTV, Spectator Australia online editor Alexandra Marshall said “most Australians had no idea they were even here”, while Express.co.uk reported she also referenced a Sydney Morning Herald quote claiming Australia was being treated “as an ATM”.
Ms Marshall, responding to presenter Mark Dolan, argued that the couple did not generate the headlines they may have expected and claimed she had to search online to follow what they were doing during their time in the country. She also said a new YouGov poll placed Meghan near the bottom of a popularity ranking of royals, with Harry also positioned low, while Queen Elizabeth II and Princess Diana were ranked highly.
The criticism comes as the couple’s schedule included a visit to the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne, where they posed for photographs with patients, and engagements in Sydney that included volunteering at a soup kitchen and meeting people affected by the Bondi Beach attack, amid ongoing debate over the purpose and impact of the tour in local media and online.
Britpop News has previously reported on similar reaction to the trip, including claims that the Sussexes were slammed over ‘cash tour’ allegations in Australia. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have not publicly responded to the remarks made on TalkTV.
The discussion is likely to add to wider attention on how the couple’s overseas appearances are received and whether future visits can command sustained public interest beyond social media clips and short news cycles.
