AceShowbiz - Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are set to begin their 2026 tour of Australia tomorrow, but notably, they will not participate in any public walkabouts during their visit. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will be traveling to Melbourne, Canberra, and Sydney to engage in a range of charitable and commercial events.

Their office has confirmed that the focus of this trip will be on mental health, community resilience, and support for veterans and their families. Alongside these public causes, the couple will also attend private meetings and special projects. It is understood that their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, will not be accompanying them on this occasion.

This trip marks their return to Australia since their first official royal tour together in 2018, which took place several months after their wedding. During that earlier visit, thousands of people lined the streets eager to see and interact with the couple. However, unlike the 2018 tour, this visit is privately funded and does not include any walkabouts to meet the public, largely due to concerns over security and the associated costs of maintaining public order.

These concerns have been echoed by sources who explain that the planning for the visit prioritizes safety and cost-effectiveness. This decision has sparked debate back in Australia, with a Change.org petition demanding no taxpayer funding or official support for the couple’s private visit. The petition argues that public funds should not be used to support private visits and has amassed over 45,000 signatures.

Law enforcement agencies are preparing for the couple’s arrival with increased security measures. The New South Wales Police Force, responsible for Sydney, stated it would conduct an operation to maintain public safety throughout the Duke and Duchess’s stay. A spokesperson emphasized that while additional security measures will be in place, disruption to the community will be minimized as much as possible.

Victoria Police, overseeing Melbourne, declined to comment on specific operational plans but acknowledged awareness of the visit, describing it as private. They assured that resources would be deployed as necessary to ensure community safety. The Australian Federal Police has been approached for comment but has yet to provide any statements.

Beginning their tour in Melbourne, Harry and Meghan will visit organizations that provide services for young people and vulnerable women. One of their engagements includes a visit to a leading children’s hospital in Australia. Additionally, Meghan will participate in an event highlighting community-driven support for women at a homeless services center.

The couple will also focus on veteran affairs, undertaking activities related to the Australian National Veterans Art Museum and supporting Invictus Australia. This emphasis on the veteran community will continue during their time in Canberra, where Harry will attend ceremonies at the Australian War Memorial, including the Last Post Ceremony.

Further engagements include meetings with mental health organizations such as Movember and Batyr, an Australian mental health group. In Sydney, the Duke and Duchess will join members of the Invictus community on Sydney Harbour and meet with former competitors of the Invictus Games.

The tour will wrap up with the couple attending a rugby match at Allianz Stadium on Friday, featuring the New South Wales Waratahs versus Moana Pasifika. Alongside their public engagements, Harry and Meghan will participate in private commercial events separate from the public-facing program.

Among the commercial engagements, Meghan is scheduled to appear on stage at a “girls’ weekend” retreat in Sydney. Tickets for this event cost £1,400, and VIP access priced at £1,670 includes a group photo opportunity with the duchess. The event will take place at the five-star InterContinental Coogee Beach hotel and is organized by Gemma O’Neill, host of the Her Best Life podcast. The retreat will host 300 attendees.

Meanwhile, Harry will be a guest speaker at the InterEdge Summit in Melbourne on Thursday. The summit focuses on leadership, psychosocial safety, and human connection in the workplace. Tickets for delegates cost £525, with platinum tickets priced at £1,250. Virtual tickets, offering on-demand access to Harry’s speech, are available for £260. The event will be held at Melbourne’s Centrepiece conference venue.

The couple’s office stated that the visit will underscore their ongoing dedication to mental health advocacy, strengthening support for the armed forces community, and highlighting the positive impact of connection and shared experiences in driving social change.

Reflecting on their 2018 Australian tour, which coincided with the announcement of Meghan’s pregnancy with Prince Archie, Harry later described in his autobiography, Spare, that Meghan “dazzled” the crowds despite the demanding nature of the tour. He noted that she was excelling at royal duties in a way that rivaled Princess Diana, which he viewed as both impressive and daunting.

Following their return from the 2018 trip, Harry recounted in his memoir how media scrutiny intensified, including damaging reports alleging that Meghan had made her staff miserable. Despite this, the couple’s commitment to their public roles and charitable causes has remained steadfast.

It is important to note that Australia is one of the Commonwealth realms with King Charles as its head of state. The King and Queen Camilla visited Australia in 2024, participating in community events that included a barbecue and a walkabout at the Sydney Opera House.