The retreat, hosted by the Her Best Life podcast, will take place at the InterContinental Sydney Coogee Beach, a five-star hotel on the waterfront in Sydney's eastern suburbs, and is limited to 300 people. Women have paid more than $3,000 to attend the three-day event, which includes wellness activities like yoga, meditation, a women's psychology session, sound healing, time by the pool, a gala dinner, and a disco night. VIP tickets include a group photo with Meghan Markle, while standard ticket holders get a photo of Gemma O'Neill with Meghan on stage.
Meghan Markle will participate in a fireside chat interview at the event. Gemma O'Neill is the PR woman and podcast host organizing the retreat, but her background includes financial troubles. Her talent management business, Gemmie Agency, went into voluntary liquidation in November, owing over $500,000 to the Australian Taxation Office, and she informed administrators she cannot repay debts due to lack of savings and low income.
I have admired [Meghan] and what she has endured...and how she has demonstrated how a woman can be pushed down and she can still rise.
The deal for Meghan Markle to appear was brokered by Markus Anderson, a close friend of Meghan and Gemma O'Neill. A British former paparazzo and OnlyFans documentary filmmaker Joshua Fox is involved in Meghan Markle's upcoming private women's retreat in Sydney, helping with social media content, and he was seen at the InterContinental Hotel in Coogee last Friday when Gemma O'Neill was meeting with representatives of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Venue issues have emerged at the InterContinental Sydney Coogee Beach, with the hotel's pool and spa not finished, and the beach below has been battling effluent 'poop balls' over the past two years.
Security protocols for the private event are stringent, with attendees must undergo security clearance and no phones are allowed during Meghan's interview. An online troll claimed they were attempting to gain access to the retreat, raising security concerns. Controversy surrounds the interviewer selection, with Gemma O'Neill previously co-hosting the show alongside Australian celebrity Jackie 'O' Henderson, until Ms Henderson announced she would 'step away' from the podcast in February this year.
I feel so flattered because she's effectively doing this as a favour because of our mutual friend, and she's doing it because she really loves what our community is about, which is women trying to grow...be their best selves and trying to help other women.
Jackie O Henderson had a public row with her radio partner Kyle Sandilands, leading to their show being taken off air. Meghan Markle allegedly asked Gemma O'Neill to interview her at the event, rather than Jackie O Henderson, to avoid overshadowing her mission. During their visit to Australia, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will pursue their own charitable and commercial interests, acting as private citizens rather than representatives of the UK.
The Sussexes' visit focuses on mental health, community resilience, and support for veterans and their families, and the trip is privately funded, not by taxpayers. Public backlash has emerged, with Australians pushing back against taxpayer money being spent on Harry and Meghan's visit, with a petition demanding they fund their own trip. Ticket sales for the retreat are contentious, with the retreat has failed to sell out, with organizers releasing additional tickets last-minute, and organizers initially claimed the event sold out but later offered more tickets.
It's a very small event for 300 women... it's going to be a fireside chat with Meghan and I.
A spokesman for the Duchess of Sussex confirmed she will still appear at the retreat despite setbacks. The couple are expected to visit both Sydney and Melbourne and 'take part in a number of private, business, and philanthropic engagements', according to their spokesman. Gemma O'Neill's financial status and the specifics of her ATO debt are not fully disclosed.
Security measures for troll threats and Joshua Fox's exact role in the retreat are also unclear. Ticket availability status and the full Australian itinerary details beyond the retreat are additional unknowns.
Gemma O'Neill said that Jackie 'O' Henderson would not be joining her to interview the Duchess during the event.
This is going to be an unforgettable weekend designed for women who want to reconnect, recharge, laugh, learn and have some serious fun.
On the podcast's website, the retreat is described as an 'intimate luxury weekend by the ocean designed to bring women together for powerful conversations, relaxation, laughter and unforgettable experiences'.
The highlight of the weekend will be an in-person conversation with Meghan, Duchess of Sussex.