Harry and Meghan in Australia - Harry Ticket Trouble and Meghan’s Retreat Questions Mount

0:00 Ah calorogus Shark Media that hello and welcome to Palace Intrigue. I am your host, Mark ranswers. In The Express, Rebecca Russell writes under the headline Prince Harry's had just been given a huge slap round the face. He's been totally exposed, Russell tells us, would you believe it? There is apparently a limit to how much money people will pay to be lectured on the ins and outs of workplace wellness by a man who hasn't held a nine to five job in his entire life. Who'd thought while the Duke is said to speak about workplace mental health a noble and worthy cause, a world where, just sixty years on from his bombshell decision to leave the Royal family, he has already seen ticket prices for his event dropped by fifty percent. Must be galling back. When the golden halo of their weddings still hung heavy around their heads, he and Megan swept through Australia like rock stars embarking on a world tour. They had just announced they were expecting their first baby, and were mobbed by thousands. Upon the thousands of adoring fans in every direction, they turned Oh, how the tables have turned back In twenty twenty, the world was curious about this couple. We wanted to know what happened behind the palace gates. We wanted the behind the scenes details, and to hear where the source of their venom had come from. We sat on the edge of our seats for the Netflix documentary. We bought the memoir.

1:20 But the problem with being curious, of course, is that it runs out just as quickly as it is peaked. Once the vitriol has been spouted and the a grievance is laid bare several times, and in every single medium possible, you're left with a person who is actually speaking. And it doesn't matter if that person is a prince or a pauper. If they have nothing of substance to say, they're exposed. And of course the irony of the whole situation is reaching Shakespearean levels now, as the notion of Harry speaking at a psychosocial safety summit as someone who has spent the last six years on a scorched earth campaign against his own family is quite the choice. At the time of this recording, it appeared that a significant number of seats may still be available for Megan's wellness retreat, despite early messaging that the allocation had been exhausted. According to a report in Radar Online, a prospective attendee claims they were able to add large numbers of tickets to an online cart, with a total value approaching one hundred thousand dollars before the system capped the purchase. One account quoted in the article said I was able to put a lot of tickets in my cart before it said not.

2:22 Another available screenshots referenced in the report appeared to show a combination of VIP tickets being added, suggesting that dozens of places may still have been open at the time of the test. The event, which is scheduled to take place at the Intercontinental Koogie Beach in Sydney, is expected to host around three hundred attendees, with ticket prices ranging from roughly nineteen hundred to twenty three hundred dollars. We'll do a longer than usual extract for this next one because the story is so fascinating. Writing for seven News, arian at Pozski says I paid twenty seven hundred dollars to see Meghan, Duchess Sussex speak at a Sydney retreat. Then they found out I'm a journalist. I knew spending twenty seven hundred dollars to share a hotel room with a stranger for the chance to hear Megan speak was on paper, a mildly unhinged decision. What I didn't expect was that after inviting me, taking my money, and welcoming me to the weekend, the organizers of Her Best Life would abruptly refund me the moment they realized I'm a journalist.

3:21 Only three hundred women. The marketing promised a luxury weekend by the Ocean, Garland dinners, yoga, sound healing, cocktails, disco, poolside downtime, and of course, the main event, Meghan. So when I registered my interest and received to reply saying spaces were limited, but they'd be in touch soon if we have a spot with your name on it, it all felt very curated and coveted. Then came the email that tipped it from curiosity into commitment. You're invited. A member of Her Best Life team told me Jemma O'Neill would absolutely love for me to join, and that a spot had been reserved under my name. All I had to do was confirm and they'd send through a private payment link. I'll admit I was a bit suspicious. The tone was warm, intimate, familiar, the private link, the urgency, the fact that it had supposedly gone to junk for a couple of people for nearly three thousand dollars. Skepticism felt less like paranoia and more like common sense. So I did what any journalist would do, even when booking something for personal reasons. I checked everything. The payment portal traced back to her best life, the branding matched the sender details and lined it was legitimate. Still, one detail gave me pause. The standard twenty seven hundred dollar ticket meant twin share accommodation with a stranger for a retreat soldiers luxury. The idea of spending what is for many Sydney Siders more than a fortnight's pay only to potentially share a room with someone you've never met felt more white Lotus than corporate team building with silk pillowcases.

4:48 When I asked whether solo rooms were available, I was told there were two options by two tickets, to have the room to myself or be paired with another fabulous solo woman from the community, where I was assured the magic happens. The subtext was clear, surrender to the experience, So I did. I paid the twenty seven hundred dollars standard experience ticket, received confirmation and was told we can't wait to meet you, and for a moment I believed them. The retreat itself was sold as the ultimate women's weekend away at the new Intercontinental Sydney Coogie Beach, two nights, luxury accommodation, breakfast, lunch at gala, dinner with alcohol, wellness programming at Disco celebration, and the headline session with Megan there.

5:31 It was wrapped up in fantasy packaging. Then just before Easter, another email landed. The countdown was on. I was told less than three weeks to go. The team had been working tirelessly behind the scenes to prepare every detail, but for security requirements, the fullight itinerary would only be shared after the long weekend. That line stopped me security requirements for what exactly a wellness retreat a Megan fireside chat. By now I had nearly three thousand dollars floating in the ether and still no proper itinerary, tax invoice or clarity around logistics. Security has long been a sensitive issue for the pair since stepping back from royal duties in twenty twenty, with Prince Harry previously saying he does not feel safe returning to the UK due to threats against his family. I asked for a tax invoice. That was the moment everything changed. Instead of an invoice, I got a phone call attempt, followed by an email that Bland sided me. They had become aware that I work in media, and because this was a closed door experience, they were no longer able to offer me access. My ticket would be refunded in full, more powace in just a moment.

6:43 Megan is reportedly receiving a surge of interest from Hollywood studios amid renewed speculation that you could return to acting. According to a report in Page six, a senior Los Angeles casting agent claims the Duchess has been bombarded with offers in recent weeks, following comments from a former co star suggests she may be planning a comeback. The agent said Megan has been the hottest talking point in Hollywood circles in the last couple of weeks. The very suggestion that she is planning to come back to acting has prompted interests the likes I have never seen in my three decades in the business. According to the reports, studios and production companies are said to be exploring a wide range of opportunities, including romantic comedies, dramas, sitcoms, and even soap operas. The source said offers for leading roles and development proposals have flooded in. We are talking purveyors of genres including rom coms, drama, sitcoms, and even soap operas.

7:34 Everyone wants to be in the conversation. Meghan has followed through a lighthearted promise to her Format Suits co star Patrick j Adams, sending him the selection of products from her as Ever lifestyle brand after he joked about being left out. He wrote, worth the wait. Thank you Meghan for the deliciousness and not Skinny but Not Fat podcasts for helping raise awareness about my jamlessness. Yeah, there you have it. In fact, email us addresses the Palasy Trig at gmail dot com. Please follow us Spotify, Apple or the Apple of your choice. I'm Mark Francis my thanks to John McDermott. This is Pallas Intrigue and good terms