Australia Greets Harry and Meghan With Cheers, Critics, and Discounted Tickets

0:03 Caloroga Shark Media. Hello and welcome to Palace Intrigue. I am your host, Mark Francis. Harry and Meghan have begun their visit to Australia with a reception that, at least on day one, appeared divided. The couple arrived in Melbourne on a commercial flight from Los Angeles, traveling business class, grow three seats E and F and keeping a notably low profile upon arrival with no police escort. Fellow passengers described them as friendly and understated. Once said they were super friendly around the toilet areas. While crowds gathered at the Royal Children's Hospital to greet them, many eager for photos and brief conversations, not everyone in Australia seemed convinced of their relevance. Some locals in Sydney were openly critical.

0:54 One resident told the BBC, I don't know why they're coming. Another added they are very much about self promotion. They'd probably be my least favorite royals put it that way. There is also growing frustration around the cost of the visit. More than forty six thousand people have reportedly signed a petition opposing the use of taxpayer money for security, with concerns the overall bill could run into the six figures. Inside the Royal Children's Hospital, however, the mood was markedly different. Patients and families packed the foyer, and hospital leadership described the turnout as extraordinary. Chief Executive Doctor Peter Steer said, the fact that they've taken such time and stopped, I think they have made many a day here today. Fround patients and families in particular, the couple spent time speaking with young patients, posing for selfies and offering what one parent described as a much needed lift. Reflecting on the visit, and mother said it made us smile for a minute.

1:48 We're not getting many smiles at the moment, but we've got one this morning. Megan was presented with a knitted flower by a four year old patient, and warmly engaged with several children, at one point, noting the similarity in age between the child and her own daughter. During a garden therapy session with teenage patients, the Duchess reflected on the scent of plants, saying one reminded her of a nice warm bath when it's cold, while the Duke joked about taking a piece of wood home, adding I would, but I might get arrested. Later on the oncology ward, the Duke shared a light moment with a teenage patient discussing fishing, remarking, typical fishermen, let me show you how big my fish is. At one point, the Duchess was told she looked like a model. She responded simply, you are so nice, before later joking about her travel fatigue, telling those that a women's shelter. We landed here this morning, so my jet lag hasn't quite hit yet. That visit to the McAuley Community Services for Women saw her take on a more hands on roll, serving food and sitting down with residents to talk. After handing out mills, she asked the room, is anyone else hungry? Meanwhile, Prince Harry continued engagements with patients and veterans, even discussed in Australian rules football, with a teenage patient asking who's your team?

3:04 Are they doing well in the league. The day concluded at the Veterans Museum, where the couple viewed artwork and joined children in creative activities. Attempting to make a clay model. The Duchess reacted with humor when asked to sculpt an ostrich, saying it's a tall order belong try. The tour will move on to Canberra and Sydney in the coming days, combining charity work with private meetings. Organizers say the focus will be on mental health, veterans and community resilience, but questions about funding, purpose and public appetite clearly following the couple as they travel. The Duchess downplayed the use of her royal title during the opening engagements of the four day visit, suggesting a more informal approaches. She and the Duke met members of the public in Melbourne. The moment came when the couple were introduced to Australian poet Laureate Steve Cotterill at the National Veterans Art Museum and asked how they preferred to be addressed. The Duke Cope had relaxed, proplying however you like, before the Duchess added call me Meg.

4:05 There are early signs at the commercial side of Prince Harry and Megan's Astralian visit may not be landing as strongly as hoped. Ticket prices for one of Prince Harry's key appearances have been cut significantly ahead of the trip, with seats at the inter Edge Senet in Molbourne reduced from around one thousand to five hundred amid what is described as weak demand. The event is part of the broader program that blends charitable messaging with paid engagements, including a keynote speech on workplace mental health. The Duke is reportedly set to earn about thirty six thousand dollars for that appearance, a notable drop compared to the roughly seven hundred and forty thousand he received for a corporate speaking engagement in twenty twenty. The Duchess of Sussex's event in Sydney, a high end lifestyle retreat, is also said not to have sold out, with organizers releasing additional tickets shortly before the couple's arrival. Guests are being charged around sixteen hundred dollars for access, with premium packages offering photo opportunities and additional experiences. Royal commentator Kinsey Schofield suggested that the chef reflects a broader change in how the couple are perceived, saying there is something dramatically different about maybe getting a glimpse of Harry and Meghan on the street, and now you've got these two people that are saying well, for three thousand Austraining dollars you can hang out with me.

5:19 It totally changes the dynamic of your perception of them more palacing just a moment. In thenews dot com dot Au, Daniella Elsa writes, as we have touchdown, Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex are on Australian soil, about to really teach the crew of Artemis too. Something about a nail bite, a trip to the back of beyond, venturing to the dark side of the moon could be nothing compared to the ringer of a stress test the Sussexes are about to put themselves through for the Duke and Duchess. Therefore, days on our bright and sunny shores will be unlike anything they have attempted since they exited their way to the promised land of living down the road from Oprah.

6:02 What is guaranteed is this week will be relentlessly measured up against their twenty eighteen time here, crowd sizes, tone and tenor of reception, police escorts, boukays nervously proffered by primary schoolers, babies thrust at the prints, everything because remember the halcyon days of Australia's Sussex rama in twenty eighteen. Remember the tens of thousands of adoring fans who greeted the newly weds every time they ventured out the door. Remember how they played a blinder, charming the pants of a nation that was getting altogether two chummy terms with the idea of republicanism for the monarchist to brigade. Remember when Harry and Meghan came sore and conquered us one loaf of homemade banana bread at a time. As a nation, we swooned the mood so ecstatic you might have thought that Harry and Meghan could cure scrofula with a laying on of hands. Sadly, seven and a bit years later, here we are, the Sussex's name having been a byword for fractured families, netflix, misfliers and jam Going into this week's sorty, the million dollar question is will they be able to recreate and capture the magic of their twenty eighteen adventure. Writing for The Express, Paul Baldwin does not seem impressed by the tour. He writes, enough, already our two pseudo royal freeloaders, Harry and Meghan are now clearly damaging Britain with their latest shameless, tawdry antics. There are to be bloody wonderful tour of Australia has seen them cynically monetizing their increasingly tenuous connection to the British monarchy they both clearly despise. This tour only exists because of Harry's long rejected birthright. It is a full on pseudo

7:33 royal visit, complete with hospital visits, children hugging and helping out a women's refuge, which is the kind of thing lots of other good people do too, but with slightly fewer invited TV cameras and slightly less emphasis on attendant brand promotion. What do they think they are doing? They must know they've become some Victorian circus freak show, like the bearded lady you know you shouldn't look at, but somehow you can't stop yourself. I'll be honest. My first thought, what kind of parents leave the kids at home while they go on holiday? Closely followed by surely if two people who aren't medics, patients or relatives started walking around your hospital ward, you'd call security, wouldn't you have the weirdos thrown out there you haven't tried to. Email us addresses The Palace Intrigue at gmail dot com. Please follow us on Spotify, Apple, or the app of your choice.

8:22 I'm Mark Francis My thanks to John mcgermott. This is Palace Intrigue and good terms.