Prince Harry opens up as unofficial tour draws to close
Prince Harry and Meghan’s unofficial royal tour has reached its final day, with the couple using their time in Australia to talk about grief, personal struggles and the pressures of public life.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will wrap up their trip on Friday, enjoying the autumn sunshine on a boat tour of Sydney Harbor with Invictus Australia representatives before attending the Super Rugby Pacific match.
The former royals were all smiles throughout their four-day visit; They made public appearances and posed for selfies during their commitments in Melbourne.
For royal watchers, the experience was surreal.
Among them was Courtney Higlett and her son Zaya, who shared a special moment with the couple on Thursday.
Ms Higlett told AAP: “A lot has happened with Harry and Meghan and we choose to ignore that and look up to them as role models in the work they do.”
This look marked the closest the couple got to traditional royal outing during the trip.
Fans in Sydney are expected to have the chance to see more of Harry and Meghan, and the pair will be on full display during the harbor cruise.
Special ticket holders will also get up close and personal with Meghan when she gives a speech on Friday night as the headline guest at an exclusive retreat in Sydney, where tickets start at $2699.
Those who pay $3,199 for the VIP experience will receive a group table photo with Meghan, as well as gift bags and a first-class hotel room.
“The highlight of the week will be a face-to-face meeting with Meghan, Duchess of Sussex,” the website said.
Harry and Meghan, who are no longer working as royals following their much-publicised split with Buckingham Palace, are visiting in a private capacity.
Rather than public meet-and-greets, the duo opted to stick to private managed settings during their tours.
Harry gave his own keynote speech at the InterEdge Summit in Melbourne on Thursday, where he shared that he’s felt “lost, betrayed or completely powerless” at times in his life.
During a conversation with former federal politician Brendan Nelson, Harry recalled a moment in the days following the death of his mother, Princess Diana, in 1997, when he felt unable to advance in public life.
“After my mother died just before my 13th birthday, I thought: ‘I don’t want this job. I don’t want this role; no matter where this goes, I don’t like it,'” he said.
The duke also used the speech to reflect on a time when he lacked the tools to recognize his own mental health problems.
“There were many times when I felt overwhelmed,” he told the large crowd.
Guests paid approximately $1000 to $2400 for tickets to the InterEdge Summit, but media reports suggest Harry was not paid any fee to speak.
Wearing a jacket and white shirt, Harry received a standing ovation after his speech, along with a kiss on the cheek from Meghan, who was sitting in the audience.
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