As the sun rises over Sydney’s Coogee Beach this week, the city is bracing for an event that’s both headline-grabbing and curiously under the radar: Meghan Markle’s much-anticipated "Her Best Life" wellness retreat. Billed as a women-only gathering and promising “an unforgettable evening” with the Duchess of Sussex, the retreat has sparked excitement, skepticism, and even a whiff of controversy—all before the first guest has checked in.
According to Reuters and The Telegraph, the retreat is set for April 17–19, 2026, at the five-star InterContinental Sydney Coogee Beach. The event, capped at 300 guests, offers a two-and-a-half-day program featuring fireside chats, group activities, and a three-course dinner. Standard tickets are selling for £1,400 (A$2,699), while the VIP experience, which includes a private room and a guaranteed group photo with Meghan, is priced at £1,700 (A$3,199). Despite the exclusivity and the star power, organizers announced “final last-minute availability” just 72 hours before the event—an unexpected twist for such a high-profile affair.
The retreat’s organizer, Gemma O’Neill, is the host of the "Her Best Life" podcast, which, while popular in certain circles, boasts a modest following compared to Meghan’s own 4.5 million Instagram fans. O’Neill, who started her events company “Besties” in 2024 with radio personality Jackie O Henderson, has openly expressed her disbelief at landing the Duchess as a headline guest. On her podcast, she gushed, “I have admired this woman and what she has endured, how she has risen above it, and how she has demonstrated how a woman can be pushed down and she can still rise [...] There’s no one more shocked than me.”
The story of how Meghan came to headline the retreat is as much about serendipity as it is about celebrity networking. O’Neill recounted that a mutual friend, Markus Anderson of Soho House fame, reached out from Meghan’s Montecito home last autumn with the idea that, should Meghan ever visit Australia, she’d like to do something for O’Neill’s community. What began as a fanciful suggestion soon became reality when Meghan’s team followed up, and the retreat was born.
But if organizers hoped Meghan’s presence would guarantee a sell-out, reality has proven more complicated. As Reuters reported, tickets have not sold out, with last-minute rooms released just days before the retreat. Even local businesses seemed largely unaware of the event’s imminent arrival. When The Telegraph contacted Ron Andre, owner of Above The Hook café across from the hotel, he admitted he didn’t know Meghan was coming, a sentiment echoed by his staff. “No one is really talking about it,” he said. The prevailing mood among locals, it seems, is one of indifference or mild curiosity rather than feverish anticipation.
Still, the retreat is expected to generate nearly £630,000 in ticket revenue, a figure that would make most event planners envious. Meghan herself is reportedly being paid only a nominal fee plus travel costs, suggesting that financial gain is not her primary motivation. The event’s strict security protocols—guests will be screened, searched, and required to surrender mobile devices—reflect both the Duchess’s global profile and heightened security concerns. According to Reuters, online trolls have threatened to infiltrate the gathering, with one boasting about covert recording devices. Organizers, however, insist that the phone ban is about “being fully present, soaking it all in, and it’s also a non-negotiable security requirement.”
Despite the tepid ticket sales and local apathy, excitement among Meghan’s fans—particularly online—is palpable. Social media has been abuzz with posts from attendees thrilled to have been selected. One fan wrote on X, “So very excited to be selected to attend Meghan’s retreat weekend in Sydney. I am still pinching myself.” Another gushed, “Living my best life in April with 3 amazing #SussexSquad Besties who will join me in Sydney to meet The Duchess of Sussex herself and 296 other amazing women. This is our time to celebrate our lives and to meet Gemma & Alex who has organised this event.”
The retreat is just one stop on a broader Australian itinerary for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Their visit, which some have dubbed a “royal tour that’s not a royal tour,” includes hospital visits, veterans’ events, Aboriginal walking tours, and mental health conferences. Prince Harry is also scheduled to address the InterEdge Summit in Melbourne, with tickets ranging from £525 to £1,250. Yet, as entertainment reporter Peter Ford told radio station 3AW, “They’re not selling. I think people have overestimated any kind of interest or star power that these two may have once had.” Organizers of the InterEdge summit even halved ticket prices and added virtual options in an attempt to boost sales.
Local reactions to the Sussexes’ visit are mixed. Some, like café owner Andre and bakery proprietor Tina Zaf, see the royal presence as a boon for the local economy and a source of excitement. “It’s good for the economy, puts us on the map and more people will come down,” Andre told The Telegraph. Zaf added, “Oprah was walking Coogee Bay Road just a few months ago and brought so much excitement and buzz. Who knows – maybe [Meghan] will pop in for a cinnamon scroll.”
Others are less impressed. British-born Sarah Moore-Clague, who has lived in Coogee for 25 years, remarked, “People don’t care about Meghan and Harry. They are just self-publicising people who are trying to build a brand for themselves.” She noted that Australians’ indifference is specific to Harry and Meghan and does not extend to the broader royal family. “I think if it were William and Catherine, then people would try to go see them,” she said, praising the couple’s “exemplary life.”
For many, the high price of admission is a barrier. Local mother-of-three Mia Jay told The Telegraph, “I looked at tickets and they were way out of the price range, but I really wanted to go. I think she is an awesome girl.” The retreat’s exclusivity, while perhaps part of its allure, has limited its reach among the general public.
Meanwhile, Meghan’s broader business ambitions have not gone unnoticed. She recently filed a trademark in Australia for her lifestyle brand As Ever, hinting at future ventures down under—including, perhaps, more of those 860,000 jars of jam she’s reportedly sold.
As this unconventional “royal” tour draws to a close, the question remains: Does the Sussex stardust still hold sway in Australia? Judging by the mix of excitement, indifference, and controversy surrounding the retreat, the answer may depend on whom you ask. For now, Meghan’s “Her Best Life” weekend is set to proceed under the Sydney sun, promising inspiration, connection, and perhaps a glimpse of celebrity magic for those willing—and able—to pay the price.