Meghan Markle Dragged as Australian Retreat Organizers Beg for Attendees After 'Attempting to Make It Look Like No Tickets Were Left'
There are still tickets available for Meghan Markle's retreat despite sold out claims, prospective attendees say.
April 1 2026, Published 7:45 p.m. ET
It appears Meghan Markle's embattled Australian "wellness retreat" is far from sold out, as organizers are still reaching out to prospective attendees and even offering them the chance to bring a friend, RadarOnline.com can reveal.
The pricey event was already running into issues with high ticket prices, with the low end at $1,930 and a $2,288 price tag for VIP attendees who will get the honor of being part of a "group table photo" with the Diva Duchess, who is only making a brief appearance on the retreat's second night.
Tickets Appear to Still Be Available Despite Sold Out Claims
Several Reddit users claimed they've been getting contacted repeatedly about purchasing tickets.
Tickets went on sale for the Her Best Life retreat at Sydney's Intercontinental Coogee Beach on March 11. But with 16 days to go before the weekend kicks off, organizers are still trying to get guests to attend.
One Reddit user's husband signed her up early on as a joke, and she's still getting contacted about when she plans to purchase her seat for the 300-person event.
The woman was told via email on March 26 that she had 48 hours to claim her spot or it would be released to someone else on the wait list. The Redditor then received another e-mail a week later, making the same claim.
'There Is No Possible Way This Is Sold Out'
The homepage for the event claims 'ticket allocation exhausted' but social media users claim otherwise.
The user posted an email from host Gemma O'Neill's assistant, which read: "We’ve had an overwhelming response to the Her Best Life retreat, and after a few follow-ups to you, we received feedback that emails for some ladies have ended up in their Junk folders."
It gave a new reply deadline of April 2, where they would need to hear back from the prospective attendee, or "we’ll need to offer it to another wonderful lady on the waitlist."
The Redditor was also told that if she has a "Bestie who'd like to join, please let me know their name so I can pair you both together," although it was unclear whether that plus-one was included in the ticket price.
"I know this is getting repetitive now, but I need you all to see that even a full week after they said they’d only hold my spot for another 48 hours (last Wednesday), they’ve emailed me again just now, begging me to come and to bring a friend," the Reddit user claimed at the top of the thread beneath the email screen shot.
The community member added, "There is no possible way this is sold out," despite the event's homepage reading "ticket allocation exhausted."
'They Can't Sell 300 Tickets to the Event?'
The event only has 300 seats, which appear to not be sold out the almost two weeks left to go.
"So for all their it's sold out talk, it’s clearly not, and you can bring someone. They are struggling for numbers," one person wrote in the comments.
"I have a friend who joined the 'wait list' as a joke, and she's getting bombarded as well... seems it's not as sold out as it seems!" a second user shared.
A third pointed out: "We have all tried to get tickets for a concert or a gig that’s truly popular - there are NO begging emails, no second chances, and certainly no emails asking if their previous correspondence went to junk."
"They can't sell 300 tickets to the event? Ouch. What are the odds this dumb event even goes forward? I wonder if she will cancel," a fourth wondered about the retreat still taking place.
Meghan Markle's Retreat Facing Continued Setbacks
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The stage set up and small conference room for Markle's 'gala' dinner appearance has been derided online.
The retreat had proved a tricky sell from the start, as Markle is only making a brief appearance at the dinner "gala" on April 18 for a quick onstage chat and Q&A with O'Neill, who recently showed off the small and unimpressive conference room where it was being held.
The accommodations are hardly posh, with attendees paired with strangers in rooms with twin beds.
The rest of the time, ticket holders were told they could enjoy "relaxed time by the pool overlooking Coogee Beach," but that area of the hotel remains closed and is still undergoing renovations after it was purchased by a new owner in December 2025.
