Meghan Markle is facing backlash after fans in Australia reportedly paid as much as $3,199 for a luxury Sydney girls’ weekend retreat, only for the Duchess of Sussex to reportedly appear for about two hours.
What Happened
The event, dubbed “Megstock” online, took place April 17 at the InterContinental Sydney Coogee Beach resort as part of the “Her Best Life” wellness retreat. Guests were promised a weekend of connection, luxury, and powerful conversations, with Markle promoted as the special guest and major draw, Page Six reported.
But attendees expecting a full weekend with the former actress were surprised when Markle and Prince Harry arrived around 5 p.m. local time, participated in an onstage Q&A, and left roughly 120 minutes later in a luxury Range Rover.
Reports say Meghan was paid approximately $150,000 for the appearance, while ticket packages ranged from $2,699 to $3,199. The higher-priced VIP option included a group photo with Meghan, a premium hotel room, and an exclusive gift bag.
The 44-year-old reportedly used the Q&A session to discuss the challenges of her public life, calling parts of it “very hard,” while also speaking about the “amazing moments” since meeting Harry in 2016, including marriage and raising their two children.
The limited appearance by Markle was reportedly bashed by fans on social media.
Meghan’s team pushed back on the criticism, saying there was never any promise she would stay for the entire retreat.
“Meghan was always confirmed only to attend the retreat for her Q&A portion of the weekend,” her representative said. “She had a lovely time sitting down and talking to Gemma in front of such an engaging audience.”
The official event promotion described Markle as a “special guest” and specifically highlighted an “in-person conversation” as the weekend’s main attraction, not a full retreat hosted by the duchess herself.
The controversy came as Markle and Harry ended their high-profile Australia trip, which included visits to hospitals, veterans organizations, first responders, and even a surprise appearance by Markle on “MasterChef Australia.”
With an estimated net worth of around $60 million, Markle has built her fortune through acting, media deals, business ventures, and projects shared with Harry, including major streaming and publishing agreements.
