Harry and Meghan are not working members of the Royal Family. But Aussies would be forgiven for believing otherwise as they watched the couple’s visit to their country earlier this year. The Sussexes paraded around as if they were still core members of the Firm and God’s gift to the world. The couple have also faced accusations that they used the visit as a payday for themselves. They visited charities related to causes close to their hearts, but Meghan also held an “in-person conversation” at a wellness retreat at a five-star Sydney beachside hotel.

Guests are said to have paid up to £1,674 to attend a “girls’ weekend”. A VIP package included the opportunity to get a group photograph with Meghan. The BBC reported that it is not known what the Duchess would be paid. It has also been speculated that Australia is considered as a potentially bountiful market for Meghan’s As Ever lifestyle company.

It is believed to have registered trademarks in 12 different product categories in Australia in 2025.

Harry also delivered a speech at a summit, the tickets for which cost up to £1,260 per person.

Prior to the visit, the Duke and his wife had been trying to make it big in the United States via big money deals with Netflix and Spotify.

Whether entirely fair or not, you’d be forgiven for forming the impression they’re on a frantic supermarket sweep to gobble up as much money as they can as quickly as possible.

Meanwhile, back in the UK, King Charles, rather than concocting new ways to become ever richer, has been making headlines for what he’s given away.

He surprised Emily Hurst, offering an entire field of Maris Widgeon wheat from his Sandringham Estate to the hat maker after learning of her difficulty sourcing straw.

Obviously this generous gesture is a drop in the ocean when one considers the monarch’s entire property portfolio.

But nevertheless it paints Charles in a very positive light with the story no doubt bringing a smile to the faces of many royal fans.

These same faces I suspect will frown whenever they hear about the Sussexes’ latest money-making masterplans.

The same goes for Sarah Ferguson being given £15,000 by convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and offering to sell access to her ex-husband, who at the time was still Prince Andrew.

As it does for Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor himself, who used Ministry of Defence (MoD) planes to fly him to St Andrews for two golfing trips at a cost to the taxpayer of more than £7,300. Then there were the claims he was paid £750,000 for “assistance” he provided in relation to an elderly Turkish woman’s passport.

It is no wonder that Charles is the fourth most popular royal, according to YouGov, while Harry, Meghan and Fergie languish in 11th, 14th and 18th places respectively.

Andrew, meanwhile, doesn’t even make it onto the leaderboard.