Meghan set for hotel event after she and Harry meet Bondi heroes

Meghan set for hotel event after she and Harry meet Bondi heroes
Source: Daily Mail Online

Meghan Markle is set to appear at a £1,700-a-head Sydney 'ultimate girls' weekend' that could net her up to £130,000 after a controversial final day of her Australian tour with Prince Harry.

On a day where the Duke and Duchess of Sussex spoke to survivors of the Bondi terrorist attack in December, Meghan will meet women who have paid $3200 for VIP photos at Her Best Life women's retreat at the InterContinental in Coogee.

Earlier in Sydney the couple sailed sail around the world-famous Sydney harbour, and posed for selfies with fans at the Sydney Opera House with police.

After he looked angry yesterday when asked for a selfie by someone blocking Meghan's path, today Harry moved away a camera crew who came too close.

Harry and Meghan were gifted matching custom-made pairs of Invictus Australia-branded flip-flops, known as thongs Down Under. Harry's were emblazoned with 'G'day Hazza' while Meghan's had 'G'day Megs'.

On Bondi, Harry hugged a man wearing only beachball-patterned budgie smugglers before the couple met survivors of the terrorist attack late in 2025.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex pose for a selfie with a surf rescue team.

Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, hold flip-flops with the inscriptions 'G' day Hazza' and 'G' day Megs' presented by veteran Joel Vanderzwan as they take part in a sailing event with members of Invictus Australia in Sydney Harbour.

Meghan hugs Jessica Chapnil Khan, a survivor of the 2025 Bondi Beach terror attack.

The Duchess of Sussex meets volunteer first responders from Bondi and looked moved as she heard their stories of the terror attack last December.

A police launch boat takes Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, to a yacht to take part in a sailing event with members of Invictus Australia. The cost to Aussie taxpayers has been a controversial part of the trip.

The Duke of Sussex moves a camera man as he arrives at the Man O'War Steps, next to the Sydney Opera House.

Some of the group they spoke to were among the first responders to the Bondi terrorist attack, in which 15 innocent lives were lost on December 14.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex spoke to Jessica Chapnik Kahn, who survived the Bondi Beach terror attack while shielding her five-year-old daughter after attending a Hanukkah party.

Ms Chapnik Kahn said it was an 'honour' to meet the couple during their visit to the Bondi Surf Bathers' Life Saving Club.

She added: 'The greater problem in the world right now is hate.'
'Hate is a human problem that we're facing, a very big problem. So to highlight that, to be able to connect with them on this heart level, I think is very special.'

Discussing the attacks, Ms Chapnik Kahn said: 'When the gunshots started, we started running towards the beach, and it became very clear we weren't going to make it to the beach and stay alive. So we hid in a picnic area.

'I didn't want my daughter to die with gunshots and sirens and wailing mothers - I just couldn't reconcile that those would be her last moments.

'So I spoke really clearly into her ear, and I said: 'My darling, go inside yourself where all the love is, and stay there. Stay in your heart, my baby'.

'And she heard me, and we laid there together in this heart space in the middle of horror for who knows how long, and we survived.'

A man clad just in beachball budgie smugglers was taking selfies in front of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on Bondi Beach.

He then cornered Harry for a sweaty hug and proper photo.

Harry poses with his new Aussie friend.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex meet volunteer first responders from Bondi Surf Bathers' Life Saving Club.

The couple speak with Elon Zizerb (R), a Bondi beach terror attack survivor.

Meghan kicked off her first day in Sydney with a stroll along the Tamarama-Bronte coastal walk, where she was joined by close friend Markus Anderson, surrounded by NSW Police officers.

The Sussexes are now back at InterContinental Hotel in Coogee to prepare for later engagements.

Tickets for the weekend cost up to $3,199 AUD (£1,400) with those who paid the extra £264 for a ticket allowed the chance to have a table photo with the Duchess. Meghan's fee has not been revealed but has been described as a 'fat one', and is apparently in the region of $250,000.

Security at the hotel has also been increased with the arrival of the NSW Police Dog Squad.

Meghan is also listed to join Harry at a Super Rugby game between the NSW Waratahs and Moana Pasifika at Allianz Stadium later tonight before they are expected to fly back to the United States.

It's understood they'll be watch the game from a SCG Trust private suite alongside military and Invictus Games guests.

Up to 15,000 are expected to attend tonight's match, while thousands more sports fans will pack the Sydney Cricket Ground next door for the AFL cross-town derby between the Sydney Swans and GWS Giants.

Earlier today Harry and Meghan were escorted by police protection as they sailed around Sydney Harbour.

The couple insist their 2026 trip is 'privately-funded' but there has been a huge row Down Under because Australian taxpayers are due to foot the bill for some police security .

Tens of thousands of people have signed a petition demanding the Sussexes cover all the costs themselves.

One critic accused them of treating Australia 'like an ATM' because the country had been 'good to them' when they were working royals.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex spent several minutes shaking hands and taking selfies with fans when they arrived at the Sydney Opera House , as a heavy police and private security presence watched on.

The couple then boarded a boat for a sail around the iconic harbour with Invictus Australia - similar the one they enjoyed the last time they were here in 2018 for the Invictus Games.

They were escorted by NSW Police officers, which is funded by taxpayers.

Meghan was gifted a pair of Invictus Australia-branded thongs emblazoned with G'day Megs.

Meghan and Harry attended Bondi Surf Bathers Life Saving Club to meet with heroes of the Bondi massacre before being surrounded by crowds.

A heavy NSW Police and private security presence guarded the doors as the Duke and Duchess spent 30 minutes inside meeting 40 surf life savers.

Harry, the Duke of Sussex arrives at the Man O'War Steps, next to the Sydney Opera House, with Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex

The Duchess of Sussex poses for a selfie photo with a fan

Harry also got into the spirit to pose for a photo

Meghan then looked very happy to be sailing aroun Sydney Harbour

Some of those lifesavers were among the first responders to the Bondi terrorist attack, where 15 innocent lives were killed and dozens more were injured on December 14.

Harry and Meghan drew cheers from the crowd gathered outside as they emerged from the club.

Flanked by lifeguards, they headed down to the famous shore to watch a surf club demonstration, where they were surrounded by hundreds of people.

The crowd didn't appear to faze the couple, who happily shook hands and posed for selfies.

Shannon Frost, the wife of surf lifesaver Jason, told Daily Mail that Meghan stopped to pat her dog Lolly on the way into the venue.

The visit was kept tightly under wraps and was not listed on the couple's official itinerary.

The Duke of Sussex danced with a four-year-old Australian girl before sailing around Sydney's world-famous harbour with the Duchess of Sussex and Invictus Games supporters.

Harry and Meghan delighted the public by posing for photos next to the Sydney Opera House's Man O'War steps, before taking to the water on a boat containing past competitors in the biennial games.

Before jumping on their boat, the couple met veteran Joel Vanderzwan, who presented them with custom thongs (flip-flops) featuring the playful inscriptions 'G'day Hazza' and 'G'day Megs'.

After receiving the gift on Friday, Harry joked that he normally receives 'budgie smugglers' from Invictus Australia.

The couple also met Mr Vanderzwan’s four-year-old daughter Charlotte; his wife Alexandra; and his nine-month-old twin sons—who, in a remarkable coincidence—are named Harrison and William.

Meghan told Charlotte her husband was ‘very good at twirling’, before Harry stood up to twirl the girl around after she asked to dance with the prince.

The couple then took to the water, with their vessel being surrounded by media boats attempting to film the couple’s visit to Australia amid intense press interest in their trip down under.

The boat that Harry and Meghan boarded was specially designed to be accessible for those with wheelchairs so injured veterans could board.

A large boat that went past the couple’s sailing vessel beeped its horn as passengers waved at Harry and Meghan on a sunny day on the water during the last day of their Australia visit.

While sailing around the Harbour, Invictus Australia said participants would share ‘first-hand accounts of how the organisation provides year-round support using sport as a vital tool for recovery rehabilitation social connection proactive wellbeing’.

Michael Hartung, chief executive of Invictus Australia, said: ‘Having the Duke and Duchess return to Sydney Harbour where sailing first joined the Invictus movement is a full-circle moment. ‘It’s a chance to show that Invictus in Australia isn’t just a biannual event - it’s a daily grassroots movement. By the end of 2026 we will have supported over 30,000 veterans and their families through community-based sport.’
Meghan Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harry Duke of Sussex presented custom thongs by Invictus Australia Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, are presented with some custom thongs by Charlotte Vanderzwan and Invictus Australia Meghan looked particularly thrilled with the gift
The Duke of Sussex holds a dog at the Cruising Yacht Club as his wife strokes it Harry previously visited the Sydney Opera House during his 2015 army secondment and his 2018 royal tour with Meghan. Hundreds gathered at the famous landmark in 2015 to greet Harry during a farewell walkabout, after he came to the end of a month-long attachment with the Australian Defence Force (ADF). While in Australia in 2015, Harry spent time training on helicopter simulators at barracks in Sydney; trained with Special Air Service Perth; worked members Norforce northern Australia patrols indigenous unit. The Invictus Games involve 22 nations around 500 competitors; inspiration games coming from Harry's 2013 visit Warrior Games which brings together hundreds injured military personnel compete adaptive sports part recovery. Australia hosted Invictus Games Sydney 2018 next will held Birmingham's National Exhibition Centre July 2027.