Several moments from the trip went viral, and this one stood out because, at first glance, it appeared something was off.
A Busy Visit Despite Private Status
Although the Duke, 41, and Duchess of Sussex, 44, are no longer working royals, they traveled across Australia in a private capacity while still engaging with the public.
During their trip, they met with young mental health advocates, visited a national war memorial, and joined an Aboriginal walking tour in Melbourne. Meghan also filmed an episode of MasterChef Australia and appeared at her “Her Best Life” wellness retreat held at the InterContinental Sydney Coogee Beach.
On their final day, the couple visited both the Sydney Opera House and Bondi Beach. At the beach, they met survivors and volunteer responders from the Bondi Surf Bathers’ Life Saving Club who had been involved in the aftermath of the December attack.
After the emotional meeting, they walked along the beach, where they were surrounded by fans and camera crews.
The Clip That Misled Viewers
Shortly after, a video from their Opera House visit began circulating online. It showed Harry and Meghan arriving and walking past barricades that appeared empty.
This led to a wave of mocking reactions. One user wrote: “The embarrassment of putting up railings to hold back a non-existent crowd!!” Another added: “Hahahaha, and they put all that fences for the non existing crowd”. A third commented: “Look at all the metal barricades put up – expecting a big crowd! How embarrassing!”
What Really Happened
However, the situation was not as it seemed. Photos from the same visit clearly showed large crowds gathered behind separate barricades, where Harry and Meghan were seen greeting fans and taking selfies.
The confusion came down to camera angle. The original video was filmed in a way that did not capture where the crowd was actually standing, creating the impression that the area was empty.
In reality, reports described the couple as being “mobbed by fans” during their visit.
Social Media Pushback
Some users were quick to point this out and defend the couple. One person noted: “You notice how they keep the panning close to them so you can’t see the overall picture.”
Another added, “Lol, you can literally see that entire area is gated off and there’s no entry point for people. Here are the photos of them with the actual crowd gathered there, but don’t let the truth get in your way.”
