Meghan Markle was criticised by a royal commentator after it emerged an internet troll targeting Princess Catherine would be attending her glitzy wellness retreat weekend in Australia, while a journalist was denied access. The Duchess of Sussex will be travelling Down Under with her husband, Prince Harry, for four days next week, to promote their various passions and business ventures.

Harry and Meghan are said to be focusing on their separate projects, with Meghan particularly committed to promoting her lifestyle brand, As Ever, as it looks into expanding into new markets. One of the events Meghan is due to attend is a women-only gathering in Sydney, where tickets cost £1,440 per person and she will take part in an on-stage interview.

The Her Best Life Retreat will welcome up to 300 women for a three-day luxury event from April 17 to 19 at the five-star InterContinental Hotel.

The former Suits actress is set to appear as a guest speaker, with the programme including a gala dinner featuring an in-person conversation with Meghan, as well as “powerful conversations, relaxation, laughter and unforgettable experiences”, according to organisers.

VIP tickets include premium seating at a table in the front two rows for the gala dinner, as well as a group photo opportunity with Meghan.

But this week it emerged that a journalist was denied access after paying and securing her place at the event when the organisers found out she worked in the media.

Meanwhile, a Sussex fan and long-time critic of the Royal Family and the Princess of Wales in particular has been boasting about getting VIP tickets for the glitzy event.

Now, a royal commentator has blasted the Duchess for being selective with her audience.

Veteran royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams told the Daily Express: “The event has attracted publicity for all the wrong reasons.

“It is organised by Her Best Life podcast and is promoted by Gemma O’Neill, whose talent management company went into liquidation in November last year.

“When it was discovered that she was from the media, one guest was disinvited, which, considering the Sussexes’ phobia about the media, was not surprising.

“However, reports indicate that an attendee, who is a member of the Sussex Squad and who posts under the pseudonym @zandisussex and who made disgusting allegations about the Princess of Wales’s cancer being ‘fake’ has been allowed to buy VIP access at this event. How low can you get?”

Journalist Ariana Pezeshki claimed that she had registered her interest before getting the all-important email that Gemma O’Neill would “absolutely love” for her to join the event.

However, she then said that the organisers found out she worked in media and told her they were ”no longer able to offer her access”.

She told 7news: “That was the moment everything changed. Instead of an invoice, I got a phone call attempt followed by an email that blindsided me: they had become aware that I work in media and, because this was a ‘closed-door experience’, they were no longer able to offer me access.”

Meanwhile, Sussex Squad “lieutenant”, who claims she is “unapologetically woke”, was boasting last month about getting VIP tickets for Meghan’s event.

In previous years, she’s made disgusting allegations against the Princess of Wales, calling her cancer diagnosis “fake” and a “scam” and referring to her as “Kitty”.

She has also been promoting various of Meghan’s products from her lifestyle brand, As Ever.