During her recent appearance at a Sydney girls’ retreat, Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, made sure her guests didn’t leave empty-handed.
The 44-year-old attended the exclusive Her Best Life event on Friday night, where tickets for the full weekend reached an eye-watering $3,199.
And now it’s been revealed that guests were treated to a curated gift bag during their visit, which included a budget-friendly $18 lip gloss found in Coles.
The Q&A session was led by Her Best Life podcast host Gemma O’Neill. Instagram/Her Best Life
At the end of the soirée, attendees were handed branded canvas totes stocked with a mix of wellness products and everyday items, according to a photo posted by Her Best Life.
Inside was a $21 tin of edible flowers, from the Duchess of Sussex’s company, As ever, alongside a Tri-Peptide Lip Butter Glaze available at Coles.
Meghan’s own range appeared again through a leather “Hold That Thought” bookmark, which sells online for $28.
General admission tickets were priced at $2,699, with VIP tickets – which included a photo opportunity – priced at $3,199.
The no-phones-allowed Q&A session kicked off on Friday at the InterContinental hotel in Coogee.
Meghan spoke candidly about life in the public eye, describing it as “very hard” amid ongoing scrutiny.
The leather bookmark retails for $28. As Ever
She reflected on her time since meeting Prince Harry, mentioning “amazing moments” including their marriage and the arrival of their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
The duchess also addressed the onslaught of public backlash that has ensued, telling the audience her children are her “inspiration” and describing much of the commentary about her as “projections.”
She stayed for around two hours before leaving with Prince Harry to watch the NSW Waratahs take on Moana Pasifika.
Some attendees questioned the length of her appearance at the retreat, given the cost of admission.
“Why did Meghan Markle not even share a meal with women who had paid $3000 to spend ‘retreat’ time with her? How is that kind?” one wrote on social media.
“How ridiculous, they advertised like she was spending the whole weekend with them,” one said, while another added: “Two hours? I thought it was a weekend retreat? WOW!”
Meghan’s team later responded in a statement to Hello!, saying: “Meghan was always confirmed only to attend the retreat for her Q&A portion of the weekend.
“She had a lovely time sitting down and talking to Gemma in front of such an engaging audience.”