Meghan Markle’s highly anticipated “Her Best Life Retreat” in Sydney is off to a rocky start.
Despite the setbacks at the seaside, a spokesperson confirmed that the Duchess of Sussex would still make an appearance, giving hundreds of attendees hope of a good weekend.
The inaugural three-day luxury gathering, taking place from April 17-19, promises to welcome up to 300 women eager for wellness workshops, motivational talks and a VIP front-row photoshoot with the former actress herself, all for £1,700 per person.
However, the five-star InterContinental Hotel, perched above Coogee Beach, has yet to complete its star attraction: the ocean-facing infinity pool.
The spa, poolside bar, leisure terrace and wellness facilities are all still under construction, leaving early visitors to describe the scene as “a work in progress” and, less politely, “a stain on the view”.
Hotel promotions tout “relaxing poolside time with ocean views,” but with the pool and leisure amenities incomplete, that dream of lounging in luxury might be more ambitious than achievable.
Officially, the website promises that all the new facilities will be ready by April, but it does not guarantee that they will be up and running in time for the Duchess’s weekend.
And even if the pool is finished, swimmers may have other distractions. Coogee has been dealing with a bizarre and persistent pollution problem for two years.
Tens of thousands of the foul-smelling brown balls, a noxious mix of cooking oil, soap scum, hair and human waste, have washed up along the coastline, giving the area an unflattering reputation.
Scientists trace these stinking drips to a massive fatberg hidden in Sydney’s sewerage system, which occasionally releases chunks into the sea.
