'Meghan didn't want to be here the first time around. Eight years on, do Australians want the Duchess of Sussex back?'

OPINION -- Australia is quickly becoming the place to be if you're a royal.

We're even attracting the non-working variety: case in point, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

Prince Harry and Meghan are heading our way next month, fresh off the heels of Denmark's King Frederik and Queen Mary who are due to begin their historic state visit –an actual royal tour – on Saturday.

Exactly what is bringing the Duke and Duchess of Sussex back to Australia nearly eight years after their first visit is a mystery, with their team yet to reveal the program of events.

It also raises the question of why Prince Harry and Meghan are coming at all when other members of the British royal family – namely the Prince and Princess of Wales – haven't been Down Under since 2014.

But, as the world knows by now, when it comes to the Sussexes they like to do things differently. And on their own terms.

The one thing that has really puzzled this royal reporter, however, is why Meghan wants to return to Australia at all when her first experience in 2018 was reported to be a disaster behind the scenes.

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From what we now know of that tour, Meghan didn't want to be in Australia and allegedly "hated every second of it".

So, it has to be asked now – do Australians even want the Duchess of Sussex back?

Unlike their first and only time on our shores, months after their royal wedding, a rapturous welcome this time around is not guaranteed.

Back then, the newlyweds were widely viewed as the fresh new faces leading the archaic royal family into the future, the next generation of royals modernising the monarchy.

Hours after their arrival in Sydney, Kensington Palace announced the couple was expecting their first child (Prince Archie was later born in May, 2019).

Prince Harry and Meghan's first public event was at the Sydney Opera House and the crowds were enormous.

There were many memorable moments from the busy itinerary, including Meghan baking banana bread for drought-stricken farmers in Dubbo. As Prince Harry was addressing a packed park in the regional New South Wales town, the skies opened up and drenched everyone. The photos of Meghan sheltering her husband with an umbrella are iconic.

Other highlights from their two week tour included Prince Harry and Meghan walking barefoot on Bondi Beach and cheering on athletes during the Invictus Games which was the catalyst for that visit.

Meghan's pregnancy meant she was forced to sit out parts of the tour but she made a triumphant return with a surprise appearance on K'gari (Fraser Island) after missing the day's earlier engagements.

The couple had stops in Fiji, Tonga and New Zealand before returning to London.

It was Prince Harry and Meghan's first major tour abroad since their wedding at Windsor Castle.

And to outsiders and observers, the tour was a big success boosting the royal family's popularity in Australia and strengthening the monarchy's relationship with the Commonwealth.

But behind the scenes, the tour was far from a happy one.

The duchess reportedly found the itinerary "pointless" and "hated every second of it", esteemed journalist and royal author Tina Brown wrote in her 2022 book The Palace Papers.

A former palace staffer told Brown in the book: "[Meghan] didn't understand why things were set up in that way. Instead of being excited when thousands of people showed up at the opera house, it was very much like, 'What's the purpose? I don't understand this'."

Brown added: "The 'this' being the representational role of the British monarchy and its traditional agenda, rather than the focus on causes she wanted to spotlight".

Brown's book echoed similar allegations printed by The Times in March, 2021.

A source told the publication about Meghan's reaction to seeing the turnout at the Opera House: "What are they all doing here? It's silly."

"They were like, 'They're here because they admire and support a monarch and an institution that you're representing... she didn't get it."

Meghan was also said to be bewildered she was not getting paid for the highly-publicised tour.

The duchess allegedly told staff: "I can't believe I'm not getting paid for this" referring to the many meet and greets she did with Prince Harry during the tour, The Times journalist Valentine Low wrote in his 2022 book Courtiers: The Hidden Power Behind the Crown.

That book detailed an incident with the small group of media who travelled with the royal party on board the official plane.

During the flight from Tonga to Sydney, at the end of the tour, Prince Harry told the reporters: "Thanks for coming... even though you weren't invited".

Low described Harry as looking like a "sulky teenager" while "Meghan stood behind him, smiling benignly".

"Her only contribution was a comment about how much everyone must be looking forward to Sunday lunch at home," Low wrote.

"Harry sounded rushed, as if he couldn't wait to get back into the first-class cabin."

Tensions between Prince Harry and Meghan and their staff were high during that tour.

Low claimed the couple had become obsessed with Googling themselves every night of the tour, taking issue with some of the less favourable coverage.

But as one of the Australian journalists in the official press pack covering the tour, Meghan's experiences appeared to differ greatly from claims that later emerged.

I saw Meghan, the newcomer to the royal family, as someone who seemed in awe of the huge attention she brought at every single event. She waved, she smiled, she posed for photos and shook hands.

Granted, she is an actress, but the Meghan I witnessed on that tour was one who appeared genuinely touched by the affection shown to her by the masses.

And there was no doubt: Meghan mania ruled the royal tour. At one 'walkabout' in Wellington, where fans had waited more than seven hours to see the couple, crowds were at least five rows deep.

The Australian tour was believed to be one of the main reasons behind Prince Harry and Meghan's bombshell decision to step back as working royals 2020.

They had seen just how popular they were and the potential impact they could have on the causes that matter to them away from the confines of the institution that is the royal family.

Much has happened in Prince Harry and Meghan's lives since then. They are now living in California and Meghan has rebranded herself as a lifestyle influencer with her company As ever.

There are rumours the duchess is coming to Australia to promote the expansion of her brand, which would align with other interviews and publicity she has done in the US including With Love, Meghan on Netflix.

If there is opportunity to promote brand Meghan, then she'll do it.

The duchess could appear on the Her Best Life podcast (as per the rumours) or be a guest at a speaking tour similar to Drew Barrymore's in 2024 and Pamela Anderson's upcoming shows next month.

Confirmation from Team Sussex came on Monday which said Prince Harry and Meghan would visit Australia in "mid-April to take part in a number of private, business, and philanthropic engagements".

Both still support various charities and causes close to their hearts. Prince Harry is expected to attend events connected with the Australian Defence Force and the Australia's Invictus Games team.

But the couple might be disappointed by their welcome this time around.

As private citizens, and not taxpayer-funded working royals, opportunities to see the the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in person are likely to be limited, not least because of security arrangements.

They are also not as popular as they once were.

In February, Meghan recorded her lowest ever popularity rating at just 19 per cent, according to a YouGov poll. She sat just above Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, at six per cent.

Catherine and Prince William were named the most popular members of the royal family – William's popularity was at 77 per cent, Catherine's at 74.

While an official poll regarding Prince Harry and Meghan has not been done in Australia recently, in 2023 a nine.com.au survey asked which royals the public would like to see visit Down Under.

Prince Harry and Meghan scored a dismal six per cent, with 45 per cent wanting Prince William and Kate to visit instead. Queen Mary and King Frederik (who were then Crown Prince and Crown Princess) were repeatedly mentioned under the comments about which "other" royals should tour Australia.

It's not all bad news for Prince Harry and Meghan, though.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex should not worry about being shunned when they arrive next month because Australians, overall, are a forgiving bunch.

We love royals be they British, Danish, Swedish, Norwegian or Spanish.

And I, for one, am excited to welcome Prince Harry and Meghan back and look forward to seeing what this latest chapter of their non-working-royal lives brings.

I'm sure there will be others.

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