Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are in Australia for their unofficial royal tour that has divided the nation, with the royals splitting up on day two.
What’s been dubbed as a commercial experiment for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex is getting a mixed review, and the royals will likely want to get reaction back on track quickly.
Prince Harry and Meghan have another busy day planned on Wednesday, meeting charity representatives at the headquarters of AFL team the Western Bulldogs in Melbourne before Harry flies to Canberra for events at the Australian War Memorial.
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The four-day visit could be mistaken for an official royal tour with its charitable appearances, hospital visits, and fanfare, although the pair are no longer working royals and are visiting in a private capacity.
Prince Harry has hit the ground at the Western Bulldogs HQ in Melbourne with Movember this morning after engaging in a Q&A.
After the Q&A, Harry was presented with two Western Bulldogs jerseys, with Archie and Lilibet printed on them.
Meghan reportedly has no engagements on Wednesday, with no details revealed about how she plans to spend her time without Prince Harry.
The Duke of Sussex is presented with Western Bulldogs Archie and Lilibet jerseys. Credit: Jonathan Brady/PAHarry ready for a spot of footy. Credit: Channel 7
The visit is not unusual, according to University of Sydney history professor and monarchy expert Cindy McCreery, who told AAP it was likely for marketing purposes.
“The fact they have chosen Australia as the place to do this activity, it does reflect that way that Australia could add to their brand,” Dr McCreery said.
“We also need to be aware that their options are somewhat limited, they could not do this trip in Britain. That absolutely would not be supported.
“Australia’s an experiment and it will be interesting to see whether this leads to future visits to other countries, with the same kind of combination of charitable and commercial activities.”
The visit marks the couple’s first since 2018, when they spent nine days travelling across Australia.
Excited crowds gathered to greet the pair on Tuesday, meeting families and youngsters packed inside the foyer at Melbourne’s Royal Children’s Hospital.
After the hospital, the duke and duchess toured a centre delivering support to women and children experiencing family violence and homelessness, before visiting the Australian National Veterans Arts Museum.
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex at the Royal Children’s Hospital. Credit: Pool/Getty ImagesMeghan shakes hands with patient Hamish. Credit: Pool/Getty ImagesPrince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex leave the Australian National Veterans Arts Museum. Credit: Pool/Getty Images
Harry will return to Melbourne on Wednesday night before joining Meghan for the Scar Tree Walk, a cultural journey connecting traditional and contemporary Aboriginal cultures.
Commitments will then move toward a more commercial focus, with Harry due to deliver a keynote speech at the InterEdge Psychosocial Safety Summit in Melbourne where tickets range from about $1000 to $2400.
The pair will fly to Sydney on Thursday, where Meghan will headline an exclusive three-day women’s retreat pitched as a “girls weekend like no other” with tickets starting at $2699.
The Duke and Duchess will end their trip in Sydney where they will sail around the harbour and attend a rugby match.
