Meghan Markle ‘was snubbed by Irwin family during Australian tour because they’re loyal to William’
Down Under, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry were allegedly rejected by the Irwin family in Australia because they were ‘staunch monarchists and fiercely loyal to the Firm’ and did not want to upset Prince William.
The 44-year-old Duchess of Sussex reportedly hopes to spend time with famous conservationist Robert Irwin (22) and his family at the Australia Zoo in Queensland.
The Irwins have joined the Royal Family for a number of official engagements over the past decade, including with King Charles, who became Prince of Wales in 2018.
Most recently, Steve Irwin’s son Robert flew to South Africa to support Prince William’s 2024 Earthshot Prize.
But while the Irwins have “no ill will” towards the Sussexes, it was “not possible” to meet Meghan and Harry on their four-day tour of Australia last week, according to Australia’s women’s weekly magazine.
“Aligning with the Irwins’ worthy cause is something Meghan and Harry can agree with,” one person told New Idea magazine.
However, the meeting did not go ahead and New Idea reported that the Irwins politely declined the invitation due to their strong ties as monarchists.
An insider told the publication: “They held no ill will towards the Sussexes, but at the end of the day they are all staunch monarchists and fiercely loyal to the Firm.”
They added that Robert was particularly close to Harry’s brother William as ambassador for the Earthshot Prize and did not want to upset the Prince of Wales by appearing alongside Meghan.
‘It wasn’t possible,’ a source added.
Meghan Markle is reportedly disappointed after the Irwin family chose not to meet her and Prince Harry during their current tour of Australia
New Idea reported that the Irwins politely declined the invitation due to their strong ties as monarchists. Pictured: Robert Irwin and Prince William, 2024
Guests who paid thousands to attend Meghan Markle’s Her Best Life retreat in Sydney over the weekend may have been treated to champagne, taken selfies with the duchess and given comfortable hotel rooms; However, the budget-friendly gift bags they left with them raised a few eyebrows.
Rather than ultra-premium beauty products, attendees were handed out a mix of affordable wellness and supermarket-adjacent products that wouldn’t look out of place in a weekly shop.
Inside a branded canvas bag was a small $21 box of Meghan’s famous As Ever edible flowers, along with the Tri-Peptide Lip Butter Glaze, which retails for $18 at Coles.
There was only one other item from the As Ever collection: the ‘Hold the Thought’ leather bookmark – available online for $28.
There were also $21 Hunter lavender-scented candles that fall into the mid-range wellness category.
Meanwhile, the Love Tea gift box set, valued at $39, added a more premium feel.
A bag of Funday candy bars, which retail for $4.50 and are available at most supermarkets and pharmacies, was also thrown in.
‘They bore no ill will towards the Sussexes, but at the end of the day they are all staunch monarchists and fiercely loyal to the Firm.’ Pictured: The Irwins with King Charles in 2018
As ambassador for the Earthshot Prize, Robert was particularly close to Harry’s brother William and did not want to upset the Prince of Wales by appearing alongside Meghan.
The total value of the gift bag was just under $200.
Retreat tickets cost $2,699 for standard admission and go up to $3,199 for VIP premium packages that give more direct access to Meghan.
On Friday night, Meghan spent just two hours with female fans who paid to ask her questions and take photos at the money-making “ultimate girls” weekend, where she lamented her “very difficult” life.
After 120 minutes at the gala, Meghan left the InterContinental Coogee with husband Prince Harry in the back of a luxury Range Rover shortly after 7pm.
Excited paying guests began arriving at the five-star beachfront hotel in Sydney’s eastern suburbs from 3pm due to tight security regulations, with the official event kicking off at 5pm.
On stage at the gala dinner, where paying guests ate kingfish, beef tenderloin and coconut butter, Meghan lamented her “very difficult” life in the public eye, claiming she had been “attacked” since marrying Prince Harry.
He said he had had ‘wonderful moments’ since meeting the British royal family, including getting married and having two children, but also insisted he had ‘endured’ constant attacks for a decade.
Before she began speaking, Prince Harry, one of the few men in the audience, reportedly gave his wife a standing ovation when she came into the room.
