When Prince Harry and Meghan Markle first touched down in Australia for an official royal tour in 2018, the atmosphere crackled with public excitement. The pair, newly married just months earlier, were still core working members of the British royal family, and their visit drew massive crowds eager to catch a glimpse of the popular new royal couple. Six years on, as speculation grows about a potential return visit, BBC News royal correspondent Simon Atkinson has broken down the dramatic shifts that separate any 2024 trip from that 2018 tour.
The most profound change, Atkinson notes, lies in Harry and Meghan’s official status. Back in 2018, every engagement they attended was on behalf of the Crown and the British monarch, coordinated closely with Buckingham Palace and Australian government officials. Their itinerary was packed with formal royal commitments: meeting Indigenous community leaders, attending events for the Invictus Games (a veteran support organization founded by Harry), and carrying out public duties aligned with royal protocol. Today, the couple stepped back from senior royal roles in 2020, relocated to North America, and operate independently of the palace, free from the formal constraints and expectations that shaped their 2018 visit.
Public perception has shifted dramatically as well. In 2018, the couple enjoyed widespread popularity across Australia, with their youth and fresh image resonating with the Australian public. Polling from the period showed broad approval of their role as working royals. In the years following their exit from the royal family, however, opinions have divided. While a core base of supporters still hold affection for the couple, high-profile interviews, tell-all documentaries, and public criticism of the royal institution have alienated many other Australians, creating a far more mixed public mood than the unbridled enthusiasm of 2018.
The purpose of any upcoming visit would also differ sharply from 2018. Their last tour was an official state-related royal visit, funded and organized by official bodies. A potential return today would likely center on the couple’s private philanthropic work, including Harry’s continued involvement with the Invictus Games, which is scheduled to host its 2025 edition in Perth. Any official engagements with government or royal representatives would be minimal, if they happen at all, marking a stark departure from the structured, protocol-heavy 2018 schedule.
Finally, the broader political context in Australia has shifted since 2018. Debates over whether Australia should become a republic, cutting formal ties with the British monarchy, have gained momentum in recent years, with current government leaders openly supporting a move away from the Crown. Any visit by Harry, who remains a British prince, would play out against this evolving political backdrop, a context that was far less prominent during the 2018 tour.