Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s visit to Australia required increased police protection after members of the media reportedly published confidential details about the couple’s movements before they arrived in the country.
According to The Guardian, an embargoed briefing prepared for journalists covering the Sussexes’ tour was leaked days ahead of their arrival in Melbourne. The information reportedly included locations of stops in Melbourne, Sydney, and Canberra, along with background notes and guidance that had been provided to accredited media on the condition that they remain private until the trip began.
The breach forced Markle and Prince Harry’s team to make last-minute changes to the itinerary and tighten security as the tour unfolded. Victoria Police confirmed it deployed officers as needed during the couple’s time in the state, while New South Wales Police said additional security measures were put in place for later events in Sydney.
A spokesperson for Markle’s communications team said the situation changed how the couple handled the press during the remainder of the trip.
“Media from the Daily Mail, The Daily Mirror, and Sky News Australia unfortunately reported on sensitive embargoed information, complicating and compromising security arrangements,” the spokesperson said. “We are therefore no longer sharing itineraries beyond the initial ops note with media for the remainder of their trip.”
Their return this month had a very different focus. Markle appeared at a Sydney retreat tied to the Her Best Life podcast and announced a new partnership with AI fashion platform OneOff, while Prince Harry delivered a keynote speech in Melbourne on workplace mental health.
Despite the disruption, the Australia tour was widely viewed as a success. The couple completed a full schedule of appearances and even added unannounced stops not included in the original media briefings.
They also spent time with representatives from the Sydney Jewish Museum ahead of an upcoming exhibition focused on the tragedy.
The dispute with the press arrives as Prince Harry remains locked in a broader legal battle with the publisher of the Daily Mail. Harry is one of several high-profile figures involved in an ongoing case accusing the company of unlawful information gathering, including allegations of surveillance, phone hacking, and other invasions of privacy. The publisher has denied the claims.
During proceedings in London, Prince Harry said he believed the tabloid’s treatment of him had crossed a line. He accused the paper of attempting to push him “to drugs and drinking” through years of relentless coverage and intrusion.
