Meghan Markle has found herself at the centre of fresh backlash after her brief appearance at a high-priced wellness retreat in Sydney left some attendees feeling short-changed.
The Duchess of Sussex, 44, made a highly anticipated appearance at the so-called “Megstock” girls weekend, held at the InterContinental Sydney Coogee Beach, where guests reportedly paid up to $3,199 for the experience. But despite the premium price tag and promises of an immersive weekend, Meghan’s attendance lasted just two hours.
Arriving at around 5pm alongside Prince Harry, 41, the duchess took part in an onstage Q&A session before departing the luxury beachfront resort approximately 120 minutes later in a waiting Range Rover.
According to reports, Meghan was paid $150,000 for her appearance, which formed part of the “Her Best Life” retreat organised by podcast hosts Gemma O’Neill and Jackie Henderson. The event promised attendees a weekend of connection, inspiration and personal growth, with Meghan positioned as its headline guest.
© InstagramDuring her appearance, the former Suits actress spoke candidly about the challenges of her public life, describing it as “very hard” at times. She also reflected on the “amazing moments” she has experienced since meeting Harry in 2016, including their marriage and the arrival of their two children, while acknowledging the intense scrutiny she has faced.
However, it was the brevity of her visit that quickly became the talking point online. Fans took to social media to express their frustration, with many questioning why Meghan did not stay longer to engage more fully with guests who had paid thousands to attend.
© Instagram“Why did Meghan Markle not even share a meal with women who had paid $3000 to spend ‘retreat’ time with her? How is that kind?” one user wrote.
Another added: “She didn’t go down there to spend time with any of those people, just to get a few PR photos and collect her share of the takings.”
Others echoed the sentiment, with one commenting: “How ridiculous, they advertised like she was spending the whole weekend with them,” while another remarked: “2 hours? I thought it was a weekend retreat? WOW!”
© InstagramDespite the criticism, Meghan’s team has pushed back, insisting that her limited appearance was always part of the plan.
In a statement, a representative for the duchess clarified: “Meghan was always confirmed only to attend the retreat for her Q&A portion of the weekend. She had a lovely time sitting down and talking to Gemma in front of such an engaging audience.”
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