Harry and Meghan touch down in Melbourne ahead of whirlwind Australia tour
Passengers who sat near the Duke and Duchess of Sussex as they flew business class from Los Angeles to Melbourne were clueless about their famous seatmates until the pair were whisked off the plane.
Prince Harry and Meghan arrived in the Victorian capital on a commercial Qantas flight at 6am and departed the airport under the cover of privacy.
The former royals were so lowkey, in fact, that a few of their fellow passengers were surprised to see them disembark.
“Only until we got off the plane, was the only time we realised it was them,” one passenger told Today.
“They basically slipped off pretty quickly off the aircraft,” another said.
However some lucky passengers did enjoy a chat with Harry and Meghan during the 15-hour flight.
One woman said she spoke to the Sussexes “about their children” and heard a little about their whirlwind Australian itinerary.
“They were super friendly around the toilet areas,” another added.
This is the first time Prince Harry and Meghan have returned to Australia since their royal exit in 2020.
It’s also their first visit since their one and only official royal tour Down Under in 2018.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will make appearances in Melbourne and Sydney, where Meghan is scheduled to appear at the Her Best Life Retreat this weekend.
The exclusive event is co-hosted by Gemma O’Neill, host of the Her Best Life podcast and manager to radio star Jackie O Henderson. Tickets started at $2699.
It’s one of several ticketed events Harry and Meghan plan to attend on their private trip to Australia, which is not to be confused with an official royal tour.
When the duo stepped down from their roles as senior working royals they gave up the right to represent the monarch (then Queen Elizabeth II, now King Charles III) abroad or carry out official royal duties on their behalf.
Harry and Meghan also lost access to royal funding and maintain their visit to Australia will be self-funded.
However, the Sydney Morning Herald reports policing services provided for the couple will be taxpayer-funded.
