Royals

The eye-watering amount taxpayers forked out for Meghan and Harry’s Aussie tour

Prince Harry and Meghan spent 16 days in Australia last year. Source: Getty

They wowed Aussies on their first joint visit to Australia last year and the final cost to Australian taxpayers for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s tour Down Under has finally been revealed.

Documents released by the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet at the weekend revealed Australian taxpayers contributed close to $411,000 for Prince Harry and Meghan’s 16-day tour of Australia.

According to News Corp, $237,700.34 was spent on both international and domestic travel while the royal couple toured Melbourne, Sydney, Dubbo and Fraser Island last October. This cost covered flights, accommodation, meals and other incidentals.

Meanwhile, $46,039.47 was spent on hospitality and events when the parents-to-be were in Australia and an additional $102,117.07 was spent on ground and water transportation for the couple. A further $24,723.08 was spent on miscellaneous costs including printing and official photography.

“The cost of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s trip to Australia totalled $410,579.96,” a spokesman for PMC told News Corp. “This expenditure meets official procurement guidelines.”

Prince Harry and Meghan made headlines around the world last year when they touched down in Australia for their long-awaited tour of the country. They met thousands of fans across New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria, before they made their way to Fiji, Tonga and New Zealand to continue their royal tour.

Of course, it was on the royal tour the couple revealed they were expecting their first child together.

“Their Royal Highnesses have appreciated all of the support they have received from people around the world since their wedding in May and are delighted to be able to share this happy news with the public,” a statement from the Palace said at the time shortly after the pair touched down in Sydney.

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It was a busy time for both Harry and Meghan. In addition to attending the Invictus Games in Sydney, the couple did their best to meet as many royal fans as possible. One was 98-year-old war widow Daphne Dunne.

Daphne originally met Harry when he was in Australia three years earlier and was the talk of the town when the young royal bent down to give her a peck on the cheek at one of the events in Sydney. As the Duke and Duchess of Sussex made their way through the waiting well-wishers at an event at the Sydney Opera House, the prince caught a glimpse of Daphne and made a bee-line straight for her, planting another kiss on her cheek.

Read more: War widow, 98, meets Meghan and steals another kiss from Prince Harry

Meghan soon caught up with them and the pair spent a few minutes chatting with Daphne, who at one point put her hand on Harry’s face, before his wife Meghan leaned in to kiss her on the cheek and thank her for her kind words.

Another highlight was when an unsuspecting five-year-old from Dubbo stole the show with his affectionate display towards Meghan and Harry. Luke Vincent was the last child from Buninyong Public School to meet the recently-married couple and made headlines when he ran up to Harry and immediately gave him a massive cuddle.

The royal couldn’t wipe the smile off his face as he interacted with the kindergartner, who has Down’s syndrome, while Meghan watched on in delight. Clearly fascinated with Prince Harry, Luke then began stroking the 34-year-old’s ginger beard.

Read more: Cutest fan ever? Harry and Meghan share sweet moment with adorable child

What are your thoughts on the amount taxpayers forked out for the royal visit?

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