Prince Harry, Meghan Markle fly business class to Australia, skip the airport op

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have arrived in Australia – trading in royal luxury for what appears to be a low-key entrance.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex arrived in Melbourne on April 14, marking their first trip to the country in more than seven years.

Unlike their 2018 royal tour — when they arrived in a private Qantas suite — the couple opted to enter business class on a commercial flight from Los Angeles, catching other passengers off guard, according to People.

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“In 2018 Harry and Meghan had a successful tour of Australia, actually more popular than William and Kate,” royal broadcaster Ian Pelham Turner told Fox News Digital. “Going on a commercial flight I feel was a very good move for them as they continue to be seen as part of the population rather than in a special situation and that will be noticed by the Australian media. They have a few interviews and will feel more at home in the country.”

An Australian passenger who only saw Harry commented, “I’ve never seen anyone get off a plane looking so refreshed.”

“It wasn’t until we got off the plane that we realized it was them,” one American traveler told The Age.

The most humble landing went beyond the plane.

Meghan, 44, and Harry, 41, skipped the traditional airport photo shoot, instead walking in motorcade without stopping to speak to the media.

“With their failed deals and huge cash deficits, there’s no doubt they have a financial crisis,” British royal expert Hilary Fordwich told Fox News Digital. “They have huge expenses. What about their 16-bedroom Montecito security house, etc. But this was a very good move. It was well received by the public, obviously much better than flying privately and their good public relations served them well. It makes one wonder if it was really done on purpose to gain public support? If so, it was a successful strategy.”

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, visit Admiralty House in Sydney, Australia, on October 16, 2018, during their 16-day autumn official tour of the region. (Ipuli/Samir Hussein/WireImage)

Fox News Digital has reached out to the Sussexes for comment.

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It was very different in October 2018, when the couple arrived hand-in-hand on the royal tour – disembarking at a secret Qantas airport and announcing Meghan and Archie’s pregnancy soon. After two years, they stepped down from their royal duties.

Princess Diana greets children and staff during a visit to a children’s hospital in Melbourne, Australia, in October 1985. (Jayne Fincher/Princess Diana Archive/Getty Images)

Recently, they visited the Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne, and were seen walking hand in hand in the halls, stopping to greet patients, families and staff. Meghan wore a navy blue dress teamed with black Dior heels, while Harry teamed up with a navy suit, white shirt and black shoes.

The visit had personal significance. More than forty years ago, Harry’s parents – Princess Diana and Prince Charles – visited the same hospital during their trip to Australia in 1985.

“Go around, and you can see the crowds of people, the smiles on their faces and what it means to them. Everyone is absolutely delighted,” said Professor Christine Kilpatrick AO, chair of the board of the Royal Children’s Hospital, according to People.

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, pose for a selfie with children and their families during a visit to the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne, Australia, on April 14, 2026. The couple is on a four-day trip to Australia with a wedding in Melbourne, Canberra, and Sydney. (Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images)

“You can’t measure the morale boost, but it’s noticeable,” he added. “Many of the patients have been here for a long time and often visit the hospital. Happiness like this is wonderful for them.”

When asked what he was looking forward to during the trip, Harry kept it simple: “Everything!”

The Sussexes continued their engagement later that day, meeting veterans’ families at the Australian National Veterans’ Art Museum. Meghan also made a solo visit to the Homeless Services for Women Centre, where she put on an apron and served food.

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Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, feeds a resident at McAuley Community Services for Women, a homeless and family violence shelter, in Melbourne, Australia, on April 14, 2026, during a visit to Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex. (Jonathan Brady-Pool/Getty Images)

Their current four-day tour includes stops in Melbourne, Sydney and Canberra, combining charity work, networking and commercial appearances.

Harry will be a keynote speaker at the InterEdge Psychosocial Safety Summit in Melbourne, where he is expected to talk about mental health and safety in the workplace. Meanwhile, Meghan will speak at a luxury women’s retreat in Sydney, billed as a “girls’ weekend” like no other.

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The accommodation, held at the InterContinental Sydney Coogee Beach, has already attracted scrutiny for its price. Tickets range from $1,860 for general access to $2,250 for VIP packages, which include a dinner described as a “personal conversation” with the duchess, as well as a group photo and special benefits.

Their visit follows a series of international trips linked to humanitarian efforts, including a trip to Jordan earlier this year in partnership with the World Health Organization, and visits to Nigeria and Colombia in 2024.

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Despite being privately funded, the Australian expedition has sparked debate. Local authorities are expected to provide security for public events, with some costs potentially falling on taxpayers – a point of contention among critics.

Not on the trip were the couple’s children, Archie, 6, and Lilibet, 4.