Meghan Markle to Headline 300-Woman ‘Girls’ Weekend’ in Australia
Meghan Markle will headline a women’s retreat Sydney event for 300 guests during her Australia visit, featuring a gala dinner, wellness sessions and talks.
The Duchess of Sussex will attend a women-only weekend retreat in Sydney, Australia, in April this year, with tickets starting at A$2,699 ($1,900; £1,400) per person.
The three-day event will take place during Meghan and the Duke of Sussex's tour of Australia next month, seven years after their first visit in 2018, when they were senior members of the Royal Family.
Described as a "girls' weekend like no other," Meghan will speak at a gala dinner, with VIP ticket holders receiving front-row seats and a group photo with the Duchess.
The 300-person event is organized by Her Best Life podcast, founded by Gemma O'Neill and well-known Australian celebrity Jackie "O" Henderson.
O'Neill, a former staffer and producer for actress Nicole Kidman, confirmed the event during a podcast on Wednesday, which she now presents herself after Henderson stepped down as co-host last month.
O'Neill told listeners after the announcement, "I admire [Meghan] and everything she's endured... and how she's shown that a woman can be knocked down and still get back up."
She said an old friend was at Meghan's house and suggested to the Duchess that the two should meet.
O'Neill said, "She's actually doing it as a favor because of our mutual friend," and because Meghan "supported women who are striving to be their best."
After initial hesitation about the offer, O'Neill almost declined it, but said she felt her podcast audience "deserved it."
"It's a very small event for 300 women... It's going to be a fireside chat with Meghan and me."VIP tickets cost A$3,199 ($2,300; £1,700) per person.
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Described as "a memorable weekend for women ready to reconnect, recharge, and have some fun," the event will take place at a five-star hotel on Coogee Beach in Sydney's eastern suburbs.
Activities include a talk by a psychologist, yoga, sound healing, a disco, and a meditation and manifestation session.
Since the couple's last Australian tour in 2018, much has changed for Meghan and Prince Harry.
Their 16-day tour in October of that year was the newly married royal couple's first major overseas trip. Hours earlier, Kensington Palace had announced Meghan was pregnant.
Observers considered the Australia tour a huge success as the couple rode a wave of popularity.
They visited Bondi Beach, took a boat ride on Sydney Harbour, and Prince Harry climbed the Sydney Harbour Bridge with then-Prime Minister Scott Morrison. In January 2020, the couple resigned as senior royals and moved to the US amid concerns about intense media scrutiny and allegations of racism by family members.
Last year, Prince Harry spoke about his troubled relationship with his father, King Charles, and said he would "like to reconcile" with the Royal Family.
Earlier this week, a spokesperson for the couple said the trip to Australia in April would be for "private, business, and social work."
News of Meghan's Sydney event comes just days after her lifestyle brand, As Ever, announced the end of its partnership with streaming giant Netflix.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex signed a contract with Netflix in 2020 to produce TV and films for the platform, believed to be worth around $100 million (£75 million).
Meghan's lifestyle and cookery show, With Love, Meghan, ran for two series and a Christmas special, but did not perform well with audiences.
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