Meghan tells £1,700-a-head superfans 'I've spent all my life investing in women, can I finally invest in me?' on money-spinning Australia trip

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The Duchess of Sussex asked superfans if it was finally time to invest in herself after spending 'all her life investing in women' during a VIP meet and greet event in Sydney.

Meghan Markle was speaking to a private audience at Her Best Life retreat on Friday as her four-day trip to Australia with Prince Harry came to an end. 

Women had paid up to £1,700 for VIP tickets to the event, which included the opportunity to sit in the front row of the Q&A and take a photograph with the Duchess.

'I've spent all my life investing in women, can I finally invest in me?' Meghan asked the audience during her 90-minute appearance on stage. 

She also told the crowd her experience in the public eye had been 'very difficult' but that people's criticism of her had to do with their own 'projections'.

She said the last decade, during which she celebrated happy moments such as her wedding and the birth of her two children, had been tainted by the vicious attacks.

Meghan said motherhood had taught her to have perspective and patience, something she needed, 'given what our life is like'.

It is understood that organisers of the event, which was held at the InterContinental hotel near to Coogee beach, had paid £120,000 for Meghan's appearance. 

Tickets included a gala dinner of Hiramasa kingfish tostada, vannella burrata, riverina Angus beef tenderloin, free range chicken, coconut crumble and mango and passionfruit pavlova. 

Prince Harry was also in attendance, and rose to his feet as his wife entered the room to greet her with a kiss and help her onto the stage. 

Meghan wore a cashmere tank from Australian brand Scanlan & Theodore paired with beige trousers and nude heels for the Q&A chat. 

High-profile guests included radio queens Jackie O Henderson and Carrie Bickmore, along with reality TV star Megan Towner. 

Meghan also spoke alongside her friend Gemma O'Neill - the talent manager who represents Jackie O. 

A strict 'no filming' rule was in place during the event but a photographer was on hand to capture the key moments. 

A guest, who did not wish to be named, told The Times: 'She was saying that she wanted to be an antidote for everything online that was vicious, venomous and unfairly cruel.

'She also said that Harry had kept her safe, especially from the lions and elephants when they went on a date to Botswana.'

On Saturday morning, the group was due to enjoy an optional yoga class at 7.45am before 'easing into the day' with a buffet breakfast. 

But unbeknownst to the attendees, their star guest Meghan had already left the building. 

The Duke and Duchess quietly slipped out of the hotel's underground car park at 7.20am local time today. 

They travelled in a small motorcade of one NSW police BMW and two glossy Range Rovers to the Sydney international airport.

The Daily Mail understands they were booked on a 9am American Airlines flight to Los Angeles, where they will land Saturday morning California time. 

There they will be reunited with their children, Prince Archie, six, and Princess Lilibet, four, at their mansion in Montecito.

The Duchess has faced criticism for monetising aspects her trip Down Under. 

This includes a partnership with AI fashion website OneOff where fans can buy the clothes she's wearing.

Meghan is expected to earn a portion of the company's sales commission, which ranges from 10 per cent to 25 per cent per item sold. 

She is also an investor in the AI-powered fashion business. 

It is not clear how much the duchess expects to make, but the firm said of its deal with Meghan: 'She cares about fashion and was motivated to invest not only to expand her portfolio, but to help uplift the fashion designers she is a fan of.'

One of the outfits advertised online was what she wore to meet survivors of the Bondi terror attack.

The Duchess of Sussex had looked deeply moved as she listened to stories from those who witnessed the horrific antisemitic massacre in December that claimed 15 lives. 

Meghan also embraced Jessica Chapnik Kahn, who survived while shielding her five-year-old daughter after attending a Hanukkah party. 

She and Harry also spoke to first responders to the Bondi terrorist attack, including lifeguards on the beach.