Meghan Markle Using Australia Trip to Launch Her Lifestyle Brand Into the International Market

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s whirlwind trip to Australia was billed as a mix of private, business and philanthropic engagements — but sources say the cash-hungry couple secretly saw their six days Down Under as a make-or-break moment for their beleaguered global brand.

“The stakes could not be higher,” an insider notes.

Prince Harry, 41, and 44-year-old wife Meghan’s privately funded jaunt, which included stops in Melbourne, Canberra and Sydney, followed the pair’s previous quasi-royal tours of Jordan, Nigeria and Colombia. It also marked their first return to Australia since their official royal tour in 2018 — two years before they ditched palace duties in the U.K. to chase lucrative Hollywood deals and settle in her home state of California.

But since then, their initial Netflix deal, estimated to be worth $100 million, came to an end, Meghan’s two podcasts — Archetypes and Confessions of a Female Founder — seemed to have permanently ceased production and her lifestyle show, With Love, Meghan, won’t be back for a third season on the streaming giant.

Sources say the end of the duchess’ TV gig means her As Ever brand of fruit spreads, teas and wines will no longer be hitching their star to Netflix’s wagon, forcing her to go it alone.

Insiders say Meghan also used the trip to quietly launch U.S.-based As Ever into the international market.

“She secured 12 new As Ever Aussie trademarks ahead of this trip,” the insider says. “They both need As Ever to succeed now.”

Yet sources claim Harry seemed to take complete control of the trip, which may have rattled meticulous Meghan.

Royal expert Hilary Fordwich observes, “They have that 16-bedroom house in Montecito — let alone their security. They have a very high financial bar to meet every month, and they are spending a lot of money.”

According to The Times, Critics have accused the couple of treating Australia “like an ATM” with sky-high ticket fees to hear the pompous pair pontificate.

Sky News reported Meghan had come under fire as standard attendees at the Her Best Life Retreat in Sydney paid nearly $2,700 a pop for the three-day event, where she was a speaker. But sources say the hoi polloi had to cough up an extra $500 to secure private accommodations at the gathering — or share a room with a total stranger.

Meanwhile, tickets that initially cost about $1,400 a piece to hear Prince Harry speak at the InterEdge Summit in Melbourne were said to be slashed in half — amid weak sales, per Mirror.

“It shows they obviously must be desperate for money, and now they’ve had to discount the ticket prices for the event,” says Fordwich. “It’s not doing well, and that shows his plummeting popularity because people are not clamoring for tickets.”

Insiders believe more costly bills are on the horizon for the Sussexes.

Days before the duke and the former Suits stunner jetted off to Australia, The Sun reported that he is being sued for defamation by his former charity Sentebale, which alleges he and ex-trustee Mark Dyer were architects of an “adverse media campaign” that impacted its fundraising.

Harry and his longtime confidant Dyer “categorically reject these offensive and damaging claims,” says a spokesperson for the men.

As the National Enquirer reported, Harry stepped down from the nonprofit he cofounded in 2006 with Prince Seeiso of Lesotho following a public falling-out with board chair Dr. Sophie Chandauka.

At the time, the princes said in a joint statement: “It is devastating that the relationship between the charity’s trustees and the chair of the board broke down beyond repair, creating an untenable situation.”

Fordwich notes, “No matter what happens, it’s going to be expensive for [Harry] because he’s being sued and he must pay for a lawyer.

“Hypothetically, if he’s guilty, he’s responsible for his legal fees and the fines. If he’s innocent, he’s just responsible for his legal fees, but no matter what, he’s got legal fees up the wazoo.”