The photos that show Aussies who forked over $3,200 for tickets to Meghan's exclusive 'Her Best Life' weekend retreat were royally ripped off

By ASHLEY NICKEL, NEWS REPORTER, AUSTRALIA and MARK DUELL, DEPUTY CHIEF REPORTER (DIGITAL) Published: 09:08, 16 April 2026 | Updated: 09:08, 16 April 2026 Hundreds of Aussies who camped out to score a front row seat to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's engagements have scored better photos - for free - than those who paid thousands to attend Meghan's exclusive retreat. Meghan and Harry have posed for countless selfies for Aussies waiting outside their official tour stops since touching down on Tuesday. The fact is likely stinging to those who paid $3,199 for a VIP ticket to Meghan's Australian 'Her Best Life' event at the five-star InterContinental Coogee Beach hotel from Friday to Sunday. Standard tickets for the retreat cost $2,699 each for a twin share room.  Those paying $3,199 for a VIP ticket are entitled to a 'group table photo' with Meghan as well as a solo premium hotel room and an 'exclusive VIP goodie bag'.  Gemma O'Neill, host of the Her Best Life podcast which is organising the retreat, has described the three-day event at the beachside hotel as 'the ultimate girls weekend'. O'Neill announced last month that the Duchess would be appearing at the weekend and claimed Meghan had contacted her after being put in touch by a mutual friend. The 300 attendees will have an 'in-person conversation' with Meghan, a 'meditation and manifestation session' with O'Neill and a 'beautiful sound healing experience'. VIP participants at Meghan's Her Best Life retreat paid extra to take a group photo with the royal (pictured is Meghan and Harry posing for a selfie in Melbourne) Hundreds of Aussies have scored selfies with Meghan (above) and Harry for free by waiting outside their tour stops When O'Neill announced the event last month, she said: 'I have admired this woman (Meghan) and what she has endured, how she's risen above it and how she has demonstrated how a woman can be pushed down and she can still rise.' She added: 'I feel so flattered that she's effectively doing this as a favour because of our mutual friend.  'She's doing it because she really loves what our community is about, which is women trying to grow, try to be their best selves and trying to help other women.' The podcast's website said on March 23 that the ticket allocation had been 'exhausted', but an updated note on April 6 stated: 'A handful of additional rooms just released.' The Sussexes last carried out a tour to Australia in 2018, five months after their wedding, and Meghan's pregnancy with Prince Archie was announced shortly after their arrival. No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook. You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy.