Rumours swirl around the REAL reason Meghan Markle is coming to Australia – and it is not just for Jackie ‘O’ Henderson and her manager Gemma O’Neill’s Besties weekend

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As Meghan Markle prepares to visit Australia, people are starting to speculate about the true purpose of her trip.

Meghan Markle will be the main attraction at the very first Her Best Life Retreat, a new event created by Besties, the company founded by radio personality Jackie ‘O’ Henderson and her manager, Gemma O’Neill.

Some people believe her trip to Australia isn’t really about a girls’ weekend, but rather to promote Soho House and attract new members.

Soho House is an exclusive, members-only social club that was founded in London in 1995. 

As a lifestyle expert, I’m always on the lookout for places that truly inspire, and this club is one of them. It’s designed for a discerning crowd – people who appreciate beautiful surroundings and a sophisticated atmosphere for everything from getting work done to enjoying a meal or simply connecting with others. Think stylish spaces, a touch of luxury, and a vibe that encourages creativity and connection.

I’ve been a member for years, and it’s amazing to see how much Soho House has grown! They now have 48 locations worldwide, and I’m so excited they’re finally bringing one to Sydney – it’s planned to open in 2026, which can’t come soon enough!

Although the new five-story space in Darlinghurst doesn’t have a confirmed opening date yet, some people online have questioned whether Meghan Markle’s visit is connected to it.

A Reddit user noted that, in addition to arranging the retreat, O’Neill is also working on the Soho House Sydney project.

People are claiming O’Neill’s enthusiasm for Harry Styles’ New York apartment isn’t genuine. They point out she’s part of the Soho House Sydney advisory committee, suggesting this ‘Girls Weekend’ event is actually a Soho House promotion framed as a women’s empowerment initiative.

Markus handling things from Madame’s house isn’t a friendly gesture—it’s part of his job. He’s a consultant for Soho House, and he’s currently organizing publicity for their new location in Sydney.

Someone else mentioned that the Sydney location probably wouldn’t be finished before Markle’s arrival, but it was a great chance to showcase the luxurious space.

One Redditor speculated that the place likely won’t be open during their visit. They suggested either a portion of it is finished – though that’s uncommon for this group – or they’re holding early recruitment events to help offset costs.

Someone else proposed that the Her Best Life Retreat could attract new members for Soho House, essentially acting as a way to find and sign them up.

Someone wondered if the group would try to gain new members at the women’s retreat. Another person responded that they likely would, and suggested that ‘Twerkle May’ had arranged a payment for each new member who joined from the retreat.

Meghan Markle could potentially earn a good income by leveraging her Soho House membership. Memberships at the Sydney location cost around $2,300 annually for those under 27, and $4,750 for everyone else.

The speculation continued, and a Daily Mail reader shared a similar idea while commenting on a recent article about Jackie ‘O’ Henderson.

‘Markle has always worked for Soho House and still does,’ they wrote.

According to sources, she’s traveling to Australia for the launch of a new Soho House, accompanied by Markus Anderson. The person who shared this information described it as ‘terrible’.

Meghan Markle has a long history with Soho House. In fact, she and Prince Harry had their first date there, at the London Townhouse, back in 2016.

She’s also been friends with Markus Anderson, a senior executive at Soho House, for a long time. He apparently helped set up her first date with her partner.

Anderson also had a hand in facilitating Markle’s Down Under visit.

Gemma O’Neill admitted she almost dismissed the suggestion for Meghan to join a weekend retreat for 300 women—a retreat centered around building connections, wellness, and self-improvement—because she doubted her own value.

Markus contacted her to let her know he was visiting Meghan. They’ve been close friends for years – even before Meghan got married – and have a wonderful relationship.

And she has concluded that Markus is a ‘top-notch human’, so Meghan must be too.

 ‘I’ve always felt protective that my friend Markus is the bee’s knees, he’s a top-notch human. The first person to be there, check on you,’ she said. 

She explained that Markus only gets close to people who share his own values and interests.

So far, the only confirmed event on Markle’s schedule is the Her Best Life Retreat, a three-day program designed to help women focus on wellness and personal growth.

Attending Empowerment costs between $2,699 and $3,199 per person.

Guests who bought the $3,199 VIP tickets will get a group photo with the Duchess and will be seated in the first two rows at the gala dinner.

The April 17–19 event is anticipated to bring in nearly $1million in ticket revenue.

Okay, so everyone’s saying this event is completely sold out and a huge success, but honestly, I’m hearing whispers that things aren’t quite as perfect as they seem. There are definitely some issues bubbling under the surface that people aren’t talking about.

Gemma O’Neill, the entrepreneur behind the retreat through her company Besties, has faced challenges with large events in the past.

Besties had planned a high-end summit in Fiji at the exclusive Kokomo Private Island for 2023. The event was fully booked and promised appearances by well-known figures like comedian Celeste Barber and fashion designer Pip Edwards.

Attending the event cost between $9,000 for a room shared with others and $18,000 for a private room. Attendees were responsible for booking and paying for their own travel to the island.

Unfortunately, the planned retreat was called off several weeks beforehand, which left a lot of people disappointed.

It raises questions about O’Neill’s ability to deliver on high-profile promises.

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2026-04-08 09:19