Prince Harry of England and Meghan Markle are taking advantage of their four-day visit to Australia — until next Friday, April 17 — to present themselves as a united, joyful, and approachable couple. Since they have not been active members of the royal family since 2020, when they decided to step back from their royal duties, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex usually try to project a more informal image during their trips than that of an official visit. That is why on Tuesday — the second day of their tour in Australia — the younger son of Charles III was seen playing Australian football, and his wife — on Tuesday — was making clay figures with children of war veterans. They are aware that every one of their moves is being scrutinized, just like every word they say, and this Wednesday, the main British newspapers did not hesitate to highlight some of the things the prince said during a mental health event. “From a therapeutic point of view, one wants to be the best version of oneself for their children. I knew I had past issues I needed to deal with and, therefore, I had to prepare myself to basically free myself from that past before becoming a father,” he said in front of the Melbourne audience.
Harry began talking about parenting, which he says is constantly evolving, and assured that he wants to be a better father to his children — Meghan and he are parents to Archie, six, and Lilibet, four — than his parents were to him. Immediately, the duke hurried to explain that he was not “pointing fingers” at his own parents — Charles III and the late Diana, Princess of Wales — justifying that even someone with a perfect upbringing would want to improve it for their own children. “Our children are an improvement. I don’t mean that I have improved my father or that my children have improved me, but the children we raise in today’s world need to be better prepared,” he warned.
The Duke of Sussex also shared the fears and insecurities that came over him during the pregnancies of his two children. “There are many books you can read, but there is no manual. Sometimes, there is a disconnect because it is my wife who gives birth and I am just there to witness it. I have to be the family’s provider, I have to take care of her and do whatever is necessary for my wife, but suddenly there is another person involved,” he recalled about his experience as a first-time father in 2019. “From my experience, you would be very surprised by the reactions of most men who are able to recognize or point out days or weeks when they have had that feeling of emptiness or numbness, when they thought they should be feeling something more,” he said.
Meghan Markle did not accompany her husband during the mental health event because she was making her own star appearance on the Australian version of MasterChef. “We’ve had royalty on MasterChef in our kitchen before, but never someone like her. Straight from sunny California, let’s welcome MasterChef Australia the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle!” announced the show’s host in a preview that channel 10 News shared this Wednesday on Instagram. The video shows Meghan entering triumphantly on stage while everyone applauds enthusiastically. “The passionate foodie Meghan Markle joins MasterChef Australia as a guest judge!” reads the text accompanying the footage. The program will air next Sunday at 7 p.m. (local time).
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The Duchess of Sussex’s appearance comes eight years after then-Prince Charles visited the show’s set in 2018 alongside now-Queen Camilla — as guests, not judges. Meghan showed some of her culinary skills during her Netflix lifestyle series, Heart of Meghan, which has so far aired two seasons and a Christmas special. In the show, Meghan prepared creations such as tempura fried chicken and a honey and lemon cake with raspberries.
The Sussexes’ trip, their first to Australia since 2018 and after their distancing from the British royal family, has generated mixed reactions. While some citizens appreciate their approachability and use of commercial flights, Australian political sectors have questioned the possible use of public resources for their security. British analysts point out that, unlike previous tours, the couple has chosen to reduce public exposure and avoid large events, partly for security reasons and also to distance themselves from official royal visits.
On Tuesday afternoon, Harry also traveled to Canberra to participate in an event commemorating the military service and experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and their legacy. He laid a wreath at the memorial and took part in the ceremony, where he spread smoke from a fire with burning leaves while the audience watched and police patrolled the area. Additionally, the couple is expected to visit Sydney in the coming days, where they will participate in more initiatives related to Indigenous communities, mental health, and social projects.
The debate about the monarchy remains alive in Australia, a member of the British Commonwealth of Nations (Commonwealth). Since becoming a federated country in 1901, it has been governed by a monarchical system with parliamentary democracy, with Charles III as head of state despite being more than 15,000 kilometers away from the United Kingdom.
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