Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have been snubbed by the Irwin family in Australia because they’re ‘staunch monarchists and fiercely loyal to The Firm’ and did not need to upset Prince William, it has been claimed Down Under.
The Duchess of Sussex, 44, had reportedly hoped to spend time with superstar conservationist Robert Irwin, 22, and his family at Australia Zoo in Queensland – however have been reportedly rebuffed.
The alleged snub got here as an exclusive poll for The Mail on Sunday revealed how an amazing four-to-one majority of Britons are opposed to the Sussexes utilizing their titles for business achieve.
The couple’s tour of Australia final week see-sawed between royal-style charity occasions and money-spinning business appearances the place they have been accused of utilizing the nation as a private ‘ATM’ to ‘fund that 16-bedroom home they’ve in Montecito’.
The Irwins have joined with the Royal Family for quite a few official engagements over the previous decade together with with King Charles, then the Prince of Wales, in 2018.
Most just lately Robert, son of Steve Irwin, flew to South Africa to assist Prince William’s Earthshot Prize in 2024 as his function as ambassador for the award.
But in accordance to an Australian girls’s weekly journal, whereas the Irwins have ‘no ill-will’ in direction of the Sussexes, ‘it wasn’t doable’ to meet with Meghan and Harry on their four-day tour of Australia final week.
‘Aligning with the Irwins’ worthy causes is one thing that Meghan and Harry may very well be on board with,’ an insider informed New Idea journal.
However, the assembly didn’t go forward, with New Idea reporting the Irwins politely declined the invitation, partially because they’re monarchists.
‘They meant no ill-will in direction of the Sussexes, however on the finish of the day they’re all staunch monarchists and fiercely loyal to The Firm,’ an insider informed the publication.
They added that Robert was notably shut to Harry’s brother William, as an ambassador for his Earthshot Prize, and did not need to upset the Prince of Wales by showing to facet with Meghan.
‘It simply wasn’t doable,’ a supply added.
Meghan Markle was reportedly left disenchanted after the Irwin family opted not to meet her and Prince Harry during their present Australian tour (pictured collectively at Swinburne University of Technology on Thursday)
New Idea reported the Irwins politely declined the invitation due to their robust ties as monarchists. Pictured: Robert Irwin and Prince William in 2024
It follows experiences that company who paid hundreds to attend Meghan Markle‘s Her Best Life retreat in Sydney over the weekend might have been handled to Champagne, selfies with the duchess and plush resort rooms – however the funds present baggage they left with have raised a number of eyebrows.
Far from a haul of ultra-premium magnificence merchandise, attendees have been as a substitute handed a mixture of inexpensive wellness and supermarket-adjacent gadgets that would not look misplaced in a weekly store.
Included in a branded canvas bag was a small $21 can of Meghan’s well-known As Ever edible flowers, alongside a Tri-Peptide Lip Butter Glaze which sells at Coles for $18.
There was only one different merchandise from her As Ever assortment – a ‘Hold That Thought’ leather-based bookmark – which is offered on-line for $28.
There have been additionally $21 Hunter lavender-scented candles, which sit firmly within the mid-range wellness class.
Meanwhile, a Love Tea present field set, valued at $39, added a extra premium really feel.
A bag of Funday sweets, which retail for $4.50 and can be found at most supermarkets and chemists, have been additionally thrown in.
Far from a haul of ultra-premium magnificence merchandise, attendees have been as a substitute handed a mixture of inexpensive wellness and supermarket-adjacent gadgets that would not look misplaced in a weekly store. The worth of the bag was $200 Australian {dollars} (£104)
On Friday night time, Meghan spent simply two hours with host Gemma O’Neill and feminine followers who paid to ask her questions and pose for photos at a money-spinning ‘final ladies’ weekend the place she bemoaned her ‘very exhausting’ life.
The complete worth of the present bag was slightly below $200.
Tickets for the retreat price $2,699 for standard entry or up to $3,199 for VIP premium packages which offered more direct access to Meghan.
On Friday night time, Meghan spent simply two hours with feminine followers who paid to ask her questions and pose for photos at a money-spinning ‘final ladies’ weekend the place she bemoaned her ‘very exhausting’ life.
After 120 minutes on the gala, Meghan departed the InterContinental Coogee together with her husband Prince Harry shortly after 7pm, at the back of a luxurious Range Rover.
Excited paying company had began turning up on the five-star beachside resort in Sydney’s japanese suburbs from 3pm due to the strict safety preparations, with the official occasion kicking off at 5pm.
On stage on the gala dinner, the place paying company ate kingfish, beef tenderloin and coconut crumble, Meghan bemoaned her ‘very exhausting’ life within the public eye, claiming she has been ‘attacked’ ever since marrying Prince Harry.
She stated she had loved ‘wonderful moments’ since assembly the British royal, together with getting married and having two youngsters, however insisted she had additionally ‘endured’ fixed assaults for a decade.
Before she started talking, Prince Harry, who was one of many few males within the viewers, reportedly gave his spouse a standing ovation as she arrived within the room.
The tour, which ended on Friday, blended profitable occasions and charity visits.
A supply shut to the Sussexes insisted that the Australian journey has been a hit – and that the ‘half in, half out mannequin’ opposed by the late Queen and the Royal Family can work.
‘We’ve examined the playbook, it labored,’ a supply shut to the Sussexes informed The Daily Telegraph in Sydney because the couple head again to LA.
‘They’re doing the appropriate factor. Whether you need to name it half in, half out or – as they might in all probability describe it – simply doing what they need to do and doing it in a very constructive approach, this week has given us reassurance that it’s the proper plan of action. This might completely act as a blueprint for the long run.’
A member of Harry’s shut circle added that he’s ‘philosophical’ about a number of the criticism he and Meghan have acquired Down Under.
‘One factor that Harry usually says is that the reality will all the time out’, they stated.
‘The extra they do of this, the extra that folks see them, work together with them, the extra they see that there isn’t an agenda right here’.
But there have been stark reminders of their two worlds crashing collectively.
There was some consternation when Duchess of Sussex‘s outfit when she met survivors of the Bondi terror assault was instantly accessible for her followers to purchase on an internet site the place she is paid a share from gross sales.
Harry can also be featured on the OneOff web page promoting his spouse’s ‘look’ on the Sydney seashore on Friday, though he’s largely lined by hyperlinks to her $440 blue and white striped Matteau shirt, $139 white ‘sailor jeans‘ and $298 Freda Salvador trainers.
Meghan’s $198 Brochu Walker sun shades and $950 brown suede bag from her Bondi engagement are additionally being marketed.
Meghan is predicted to earn a portion of OneOff’s gross sales fee, which ranges from 10 per cent to 25 per cent per merchandise offered. She can also be an investor within the AI-powered style enterprise.
Meghan on Bondi Beach the place she met survivors of the December terror assault immediately. Her outfit was instantly added to an internet site the place she makes a share from gross sales
Meghan hugs Jessica Chapnil Khan, a survivor of the 2025 Bondi Beach terror assault
The Duchess of Sussex had appeared deeply moved as she listened to tales from those that witnessed the horrific antisemitic bloodbath in December that claimed 15 lives.
Meghan additionally embraced Jessica Chapnik Kahn, who survived whereas shielding her five-year-old daughter after attending a Hanukkah social gathering. She and Harry additionally spoke to first responders to the Bondi terrorist assault, together with lifeguards on the seashore.
All Meghan outfits from the Australian tour proceed to be uploaded nearly instantly to OneOff, together with the one she wore at Bondi.
She will take a share of any gross sales from the web style gross sales platform, described because the ‘Spotify of style’.
Critics have stated that the choice to promote the duchess’s ‘look’ on a go to to meet terror assault survivors is ‘the starkest instance but of Harry and Meghan’s efforts to commercialise their royal model’.
Royal skilled Richard Palmer stated the sale of her Bondi outfit on-line displays badly on the Sussexes – and can fear the Royal Family.
He stated: ‘This is probably the starkest instance but of Harry and Meghan’s efforts to commercialise their royal model.
‘I believe it will have alarm bells ringing on the palace and should finally immediate additional dialogue about whether or not there’s a want to strip them of their royal titles, now the King has proven it may be executed in impact with Andrew.
‘The palace can say it’s nothing to do with the establishment because Harry and Meghan aren’t publicly-funded members of it – however they’re the King’s son and daughter-in-law and any suggestion of cashing in on royal standing displays badly on the monarchy’.
