'I was inside Meghan Markle's faux-royal tour - 1 thing struck me'
A royal commentator who joined Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on the "faux-royal tour" to Australia has revealed what it was like to be "up close and personal" with the pair. News.com.au reporter Bronte Coy said it was "fascinating" to have accompanied the Duke and Duchess of Sussex on their four day visit to Australia.She told The Sun's Royal Exclusive podcast: "[Harry] seemed to love the job of being a royal because make no mistake this looked a lot like a royal tour...bar the commercial aspects. But Meghan, on the other side of it - it was very interesting - I thought that she would at this point have had this presence that was a little bit more effortless and having watched her again for those few days, I feel like I don't know her at all."Bronte suggested one thing in particular struck her about Meghan during the tour: "The mask never slipped. It was so interesting and fascinating to watch that unfold."The reporter went on to observe that it seemed the Sussexes' tour showed they have come full circle, from being senior working royals, stepping back and cutting their own commercial deals, and then going back to what appeared much like a series of royal engagements.She said: "They're in this half-in, half-out [of the Royal Family] which was exactly what they'd initially pitched and it was turned down."Harry and Meghan visited Melbourne, Canberra and Sydney on their first visit to Australia since their official royal tour in 2018.The visit came after the couple announced in 2020 they planned to "step back" as senior royals and become financially independent.Melbourne’s Herald Sun newspaper described the visit as a "faux royal tour to shore up Brand Sussex" amid criticism the couple attended paid ticketed events while in Australia.The Sussexes rejected criticism the visit was a publicity tour. A statement issued by their office said their schedule had a "clear focus" on "amplifying" organisations "delivering measurable impact".It added there were a small number of private engagements to support broader charitable and commercial objectives.Among their engagements on the tour, the Sussexes visited Melbourne's Royal Children's Hospital and Bondi Beach in Sydney. Harry visited the Australian War Memorial in Canberra and he and Meghan joined an Invictus Australia sailing event on Sydney Harbour.Meghan's deal with an AI-clothing line and appearance on Australia's version of MasterChef sparked criticism from some, who claimed the trip was being monetised.Bronte told Royal Exclusive: "This is where it does get a little jarring. With that said, in fairness, I've got to say I thought there would potentially be flashpoints. The mood in Australia is often very similar to how it is here in Britain, where they can inflame people and their fans are very passionate..."I was right there next to them...Everywhere they went, they were very warmly received. People were extremely excited to meet them."
