Leaked ‘operational notes’ for Harry and Meghan’s Australia tour reveal who’s paying for it all, include a VERY telling omission – and confirm the royal tradition they won’t be doing

Leaked ‘operational notes’ for Harry and Meghan’s Australia tour reveal who’s paying for it all, include a VERY telling omission – and confirm the royal tradition they won’t be doing

Here’s a clear breakdown of what those reported “leaked operational notes” are actually claiming about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s planned Australia trip:

💸 Who’s paying for the trip?

The documents reportedly state the visit is “privately funded.”

That means not paid directly by Australian taxpayers, at least officially.

The couple are said to have been invited by various organisations, rather than going as representatives of the British government or monarchy.

👉 The implication: this is not an official royal tour, but more of a private/charitable visit with external backing.

⚠️ The “telling omission”

One detail getting attention:

The itinerary does NOT include Meghan’s separate commercial event (a lifestyle/retreat appearance).

👉 Why that matters:

It suggests a deliberate separation between charity-style engagements and personal/business activities.

Critics interpret this as an attempt to avoid blending commercial ventures with quasi-royal appearances.

👑 The royal tradition they won’t be doing

The notes confirm they will NOT do traditional royal “walkabouts.”

Walkabouts = the classic royal practice of greeting crowds, shaking hands, and interacting with the public.

The stated reason: security concerns and the cost of managing crowds.

👉 This is significant because:

Walkabouts are a core feature of official royal tours.

Skipping them reinforces that this is not a traditional monarchy-style visit.

🧭 Other key details from the notes

Focus areas: veterans, mental health, hospitals, and community groups.

Mix of joint and solo engagements.

Their children are not expected to travel with them.

🧠 Bottom line

The “leak” paints the trip as:

Privately funded

Carefully managed from a PR standpoint

Structured more like a charity/media tour than a royal one

And the two standout takeaways:

No taxpayer funding (at least directly)

No traditional royal walkabouts