Rumours swirl around real reason for Meghan's visit to Australia

Just days before the Duke and Duchess of Sussex touch down in Australia, rumours have surfaced about the real reason for the visit – and it has nothing to do with girls' weekends, philanthropic endeavours or even her jam business.

Numerous reports are suggesting Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, is coming to Australia to raise awareness of a new members-only club that is set to open in Sydney – mirroring the original London venue where she had her first date with Prince Harry.

And it makes sense, given Meghan's close friend, Markus Anderson, not only helped orchestrate her trip to Australia but is an executive at Soho House – the private members' club that is set to open a venue in Sydney this year.

Chatter that Meghan was really coming to Australia to boost interest in the club, where memberships are expected to range from $2285 to $4750 per year, first emerged on Reddit weeks ago and has since gained traction.

Among the Reddit users that made the connection was one who wrote, "Is Soho House sponsoring Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's upcoming trip?

"Last October, they met a Ukrainian-Australian astrologer in Soho House New York and hinted at the visit then.

"Now, reports indicate that Soho fixer and longtime friend of Markle, Markus Anderson, was involved in the planning process. Thoughts?"

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The Redditor does seem to have a point. Back in November last year, Australian-based celebrity astrologer Angela Pearl shared a black and white photo of herself with the couple and what appeared to be leaked correspondence from the pair on Instagram.

A typed letter dated October 24 and written on Meghan's distinctive monogrammed letterhead, thanked Pearl for joining the couple at a recent event, thought to have taken place in New York.

"Your energy and insight were such a welcome addition," the letter said.

"On a separate note, we hope your family in Ukraine remain safe, and we look forward to staying in touch especially as we look to visit Australia again."

The letter was hand-signed "Best Wishes" from Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex.

A photo of Pearl with Harry and Meghan accompanied the post, with her writing: "Still in awe of this special evening. Thank you, Prince Harry and Meghan, for the warm invitation and inspiring conversation".

As for the rest of the Soho House conspiracy theory, you only need to look as far as comments made by the woman who helped bring Meghan to Australia – Gemma O'Neill.

O'Neill, who is the best friend and manager of Jackie 'O' Henderson, managed to get Meghan to appear at her upcoming Her Best Life Retreat, and even admitted it was Anderson who made it happen while speaking on her podcast last month.

"I feel so flattered because [Meghan's] effectively doing this as a favour because of our mutual friend," O'Neill told listeners.

O'Neill then explained that she had been friends with Anderson for many years and it was he who suggested Meghan might be interested in working with her.

O'Neill said she received a text from Anderson in late 2025, while he was visiting Meghan's Montecito home, asking if O'Neill would like to collaborate with the Duchess if she ever returned to Australia.

"Markus messaged me because he was at Meghan's house," O'Neill said.

"Markus is also very close friends to Meghan and has been for many years as well, long before she was married, and they have a beautiful friendship too.

"He's always said we would get along really well and always wanted us to connect."

O'Neill said she was then contacted by "someone on Meghan's team" when it was confirmed she would visit Australia, and it went from there.

She also denied Meghan was being paid a lot of money for attending the retreat, which begs the question: Why would she do it?

That is where the Soho House comes in – and yet another strange link.

According to another Reddit user, who replied to the original post, O'Neill is on the Soho House Sydney advisory committee, and Meghan is likely to not only be drumming up business for the venture when she is in Sydney, but also likely to be getting paid a commission for her efforts.

Indeed, on O'Neill's Besties page, it says it right there in the bio: "[Gemma] is also an advisory committee member of Soho House, Sydney."

Her Best Life Retreat with Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, will take place from April 17 to 19 at the InterContinental hotel in Coogee, in Sydney's eastern suburbs.

The highlight of the retreat is an "in-person conversation" with the Duchess during the gala dinner.

Tickets start at $2699 per person, while a VIP experience, which includes a group table photo with Meghan, will set you back $3199.

Indeed, the relationship between Meghan and both Markus Anderson and Soho House goes a long way back.

She and Markus were photographed together at the opening ceremony of the Invictus Games in Toronto Canada in 2017 – which was also the first public appearance of Meghan with Prince Harry.

Meghan was also snapped attending an event in Soho House Hollywood in January 2013, still wearing her engagement and wedding rings during her marriage to former husband Trevor Engelson.

Nine.com.au has contacted the Soho House Foundation for comment.

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