Most people might stand up and make way for 'VIP visitors,' but some choose not to budge. A beachgoer has recently gone viral online after she chose not to move when her sunbathing was 'interrupted' by the arrival of Prince Harry and Meghan.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex appeared on Australia's Bondi Beach last Friday. Although this stop was not on their official itinerary, it still attracted large crowds of onlookers.
According to reports, the couple had previously held a private meeting with emergency responders and survivors of the Bondi Beach terrorist attack on December 14 last year, an incident which resulted in 15 deaths. Afterwards, they went to the beach to watch a lifeguard demonstration.
The scene was soon crowded with fans and media all vying to capture their every move.
A video clip shows that as the group walked along the beach, they passed a woman lying on a towel sunbathing. Amidst the noise and the crowd, she seemed totally indifferent, keeping her head down reading her book, neither standing up to give way nor reacting to the 'VIPs' in any manner.
In the footage, Prince Harry appears to notice her and even points at her, but the woman remains unmoved.
This video quickly spread online. Many netizens joined the discussion, with quite a few praising her composure, calling her an 'unbothered queen.'
One commenter wrote: 'This is classic Bondi Beach style', 'Someone give her a medal', 'I love this woman.'
Many people felt she was there first and had no reason to make way for others: 'A beach is a public space; she can lie wherever she wants.' Others criticized the event organizers, saying they shouldn’t let a crowd pass straight through resting visitors without warning.
Some also believed the scene reflects a changing public attitude toward the royal family: 'It's 2026 now, not 20 years ago. Not everyone puts the royals on a pedestal.'
However, some users pointed out that many people at the scene were still excited about the couple’s visit, so the cool attitude online does not entirely reflect the atmosphere on site.
Afterwards, Harry and Meghan participated in a sailing event at Sydney Harbour, attended a women's event where Meghan was the keynote speaker, and later watched a rugby match at Allianz Stadium, concluding their four-day Australian trip.
According to reports, the couple had previously held a private meeting with emergency responders and survivors of the Bondi Beach terrorist attack on December 14 last year, an incident which resulted in 15 deaths. Afterwards, they went to the beach to watch a lifeguard demonstration.
The scene was soon crowded with fans and media all vying to capture their every move.
A video clip shows that as the group walked along the beach, they passed a woman lying on a towel sunbathing. Amidst the noise and the crowd, she seemed totally indifferent, keeping her head down reading her book, neither standing up to give way nor reacting to the 'VIPs' in any manner.
In the footage, Prince Harry appears to notice her and even points at her, but the woman remains unmoved.
This video quickly spread online. Many netizens joined the discussion, with quite a few praising her composure, calling her an 'unbothered queen.'
One commenter wrote: 'This is classic Bondi Beach style', 'Someone give her a medal', 'I love this woman.'
Many people felt she was there first and had no reason to make way for others: 'A beach is a public space; she can lie wherever she wants.' Others criticized the event organizers, saying they shouldn’t let a crowd pass straight through resting visitors without warning.
Some also believed the scene reflects a changing public attitude toward the royal family: 'It's 2026 now, not 20 years ago. Not everyone puts the royals on a pedestal.'
However, some users pointed out that many people at the scene were still excited about the couple’s visit, so the cool attitude online does not entirely reflect the atmosphere on site.
Afterwards, Harry and Meghan participated in a sailing event at Sydney Harbour, attended a women's event where Meghan was the keynote speaker, and later watched a rugby match at Allianz Stadium, concluding their four-day Australian trip.