Meghan Markle has drawn backlash after her Bondi visit outfit was quickly linked for sale online, sparking criticism over mixing humanitarian work with commercial promotion.
While she and Prince Harry met survivors and first responders, critics, including Richard Palmer, questioned the timing. The couple continued engagements across Sydney, including an Invictus Australia event.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry also reflected on royal life, with the duke discussing grief over Princess Diana and Meghan addressing years of online abuse.
Meghan’s outfit from her visit to meet survivors of the Bondi terror attack has quickly become available for purchase online, through a platform where she reportedly earns a commission.
Her look from the Sydney beach visit, which also features Prince Harry in promotional imagery, includes a striped shirt, white jeans, trainers, sunglasses, and a suede bag, all of which are available for sale on the fashion platform OneOff.
Meghan is said to receive between 10% and 25% from each item sold and is also listed as an investor in the AI-driven shopping site.
Her profile on the platform, where she is styled as “Meghan, Duchess of Sussex,” features several recent appearances, including her current Australia visit, each with direct shopping links.
During the visit, the Duchess appeared visibly emotional during the visit, speaking with survivors and first responders connected to the December attack that claimed 15 lives.
She also embraced individuals directly affected, including survivor Jessica Chapnik Kahn, who protected her young child during the incident.
The timing of the outfit’s promotion has drawn criticism, with some observers questioning the decision to link her clothing to sales so quickly after a visit with terror attack survivors.
Critics argue that showcasing purchasable looks during such a sensitive engagement blurs the line between humanitarian work and commercial activity.
Royal commentator Richard Palmer described the move as one of the “the starkest example yet of Harry and Meghan’s efforts to commercialise their royal brand,” suggesting it could potentially “have alarm bells ringing at the palace and may ultimately prompt further discussion about whether there is a need to strip them of their royal titles,” especially given recent precedents within the family.
He added: “The palace can say it’s nothing to do with the institution because Harry and Meghan aren’t publicly-funded members of it – but they are the King’s son and daughter-in-law, and any suggestion of cashing in on royal status reflects badly on the monarchy.”
The Sussexes’ Sydney Visit Marks ‘Full-Circle Moment’ With Invictus Return
Despite the backlash, the couple continued their engagements across Sydney. At Bondi Beach, they spent time speaking with survivors and first responders, with Harry briefly sharing a light moment greeting a beachgoer before turning his attention back to those affected.
She emphasized the need to confront hate, calling it a major “human problem,” and said the opportunity to connect on a deeper, emotional level made the moment especially meaningful.
Later in the day, the pair were welcomed by crowds gathered at the Sydney Opera House before heading out for a sailing event hosted by Invictus Australia.
At the harbor, they met veteran Joel Vanderzwan, who presented them with custom flip-flops reading “G’day Hazza” and “G’day Megs,” prompting Harry to joke about usually receiving “budgie smugglers.”
They later boarded a wheelchair-accessible vessel designed for injured veterans.
The visit marked a return to Australia for the couple, who last toured the country in 2018 when Harry announced that the Invictus Games would be hosted there. Invictus Australia CEO Michael Hartung described their return to Sydney Harbour as a “full-circle moment.”
The day concluded with the couple attending a rugby match between the New South Wales Waratahs and Moana Pasifika, where they sat alongside Phil Waugh, CEO of the Australian Rugby Union.
Prince Harry Reflects On Princess Diana’s Death As Meghan Markle Opens Up About Online Abuse
During their trip, Harry and Meghan also reflected on their experiences as former working royals.
Speaking at the InterEdge Summit in Melbourne, Harry opened up about the impact of losing his mother, Princess Diana, at a young age, recalling how it shaped his feelings about royal life.
He shared: “After my mum died just before my 13th birthday – I was like: ‘I don’t want this job. I don’t want this role – wherever this is headed, I don’t like it.” However, he later realized he could use his platform to create meaningful change.
Meghan, meanwhile, addressed the effects of online abuse, saying” she was the most trolled person in the entire world.”
Speaking to young people connected to the mental health organization Batyr, she described digital spaces as often “completely anchored and predicated on cruelty to get clicks.
