Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, his wife, have stepped onto Australian soil again after eight years. Their current four-day private tour is strikingly different from the pompous royal visit that took place in 2018.

The Duchess of Sussex, to everyone's surprise, requested to be addressed simply as "Meg," firmly rejecting her official title. The couple is so relaxed that their busy schedule lacks traditional royal walkabouts.

A New Era: Private Visit

The last time the Duke and Duchess of Sussex visited Australia was in 2018, when they were still full senior members of the royal family. The years that have passed have radically changed the format of their trip, making it completely unlike previous visits.

Now, there are no informal walkabouts where they could shake hands with the crowd and receive gifts from fans. The spouses are likely skillfully combining charitable initiatives with commercial projects, as Meghan is actively developing her personal brand.

Casual Interaction

During a tour of Melbourne, visiting the Royal Children's Hospital, the Sussexes demonstrated remarkable simplicity. When asked about their preferred form of address, Harry merely shrugged and replied, "whatever you prefer." Meghan, for her part, suggested, "Call me Meg."

Feeling at Home

The couple's assistant shared that Harry and Meghan feel great and look quite relaxed. Both genuinely love Australia and are truly happy to be here again.

For Harry, this country has become almost a second home, as he has spent a lot of time there, and he is now looking forward to meeting old friends.

Financial Details of the Visit

Before the trip, a small uproar erupted in Australia: a petition demanding that Harry and Meghan receive no funds from taxpayers or official support gathered over 45,000 signatures. The petition's authors insisted that public money should not be used to finance private visits.

However, the couple's office quickly responded to public discontent. They stated that the trip is fully funded from private sources and focuses on important topics: mental health, community strengthening, support for veterans and their families, as well as private meetings and special projects.

First Steps in Australia

From Melbourne, Harry and Meghan headed to Canberra, the capital of Australia. There, Prince Harry visited the Australian War Memorial, where he met with veterans from the Indigenous community.

Then a formal reception took place, dedicated to the upcoming "Invictus Games" in Australia.

Future Plans

Next, the couple will return to Melbourne, where Prince Harry will be a keynote speaker at the InterEdge summit. On the final, fourth day of their tour, the Duke and Duchess will embark on an exciting cruise through the picturesque Sydney Harbour with the Invictus Australia team, followed by an exhilarating rugby match.