Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are all set to visit Australia next month to attend some private events and business activities. But it seems the locals are not happy with their visit as they have voiced their opinion about their arrival, demanding no taxpayer funding for their trip because the couple has stepped down from their royal duties and “no longer represent the crown.”
Australian locals demand no taxpayer funding for Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s trip
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s Australia trip in mid-April is facing backlash from the locals. They have even filed a petition stating that their visit should be deemed “private celebrity visit” and not as a royal visit, as they stepped down from the royal duties in 2020 and “no longer represent the Crown and now operate private commercial ventures from the United States.” Because of this, “Australian taxpayers must not be expected to fund security, logistics or government coordination,” of the couple, as per a Change.org petition.
According to RadarOnline, the Sussexes’ team announced that Harry and Markle will “take part in a number of private, business and philanthropic engagements” in both Sydney and Melbourne when they travel Down Under in April. This has reportedly caused an uproar as “Australians are facing serious cost-of-living pressures,” hence “public resources must be used responsibly.”
Furthermore, they believe, ”Taxpayer-funded security, government coordination or any form of official status should not be provided for a private visit.” The petition has also clearly stated that “security and government coordination would come at significant public cost.” Hence, “Australia should reserve official support for working royals on official tours,” asserting that “taxpayers should not fund a private celebrity visit.”
The couple last visited Australia in 2018, when they were still working members of the British royal family. After giving up the royal duties, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have continued to take on international trips for humanitarian work. Harry and Markle have so far visited Nigeria, Colombia, and, more recently, Jordan.
Originally reported by Parul Singh on Reality Tea.
