The Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, is set to appear as a special guest speaker at a three-day, women-only weekend retreat in Sydney during her upcoming trip to Australia in April. The event, organized by the "Her Best Life" podcast, offers tickets starting at A$2,699 (approximately £1,400) per person, with VIP packages costing around A$3,200 (£1,700) for front-row seats and a group photo opportunity with the Duchess.

Described as "a girls' weekend like no other," the retreat will feature Meghan participating in a "fireside chat" Q&A session and delivering a speech at a gala dinner. Activities include talks by a psychologist, yoga, sound healing, a disco, and meditation sessions, all held at a five-star hotel on Coogee Beach in Sydney's eastern suburbs. Organizer Gemma O'Neill stated that Meghan "really loves what our community is about which is women trying to grow" and "be their best selves."

This visit marks the couple's first return to Australia since 2018, when they toured as newly married senior royals to widespread popularity. However, their circumstances have shifted dramatically since then: in 2020, they stepped down as working royals and relocated to the United States, citing family tensions and media scrutiny. Recently, Meghan's lifestyle brand ended its partnership with Netflix—a deal originally valued at about $100 million—after her show "With Love, Meghan" underperformed in viewership.

A spokesperson for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex indicated that their April trip will involve "private, business and philanthropic engagements," highlighting their continued efforts to carve out an independent path post-royalty. The Sydney retreat underscores Meghan's focus on women's empowerment and personal growth initiatives, even as she navigates challenges in her commercial ventures and public image following the Netflix split.

Source: www.bbc.com