Most notable was Meghan’s complete absence of public-facing appearances on Wednesday. That evening, it was revealed she had been filming an episode of MasterChef Australia.
It is understood she was not paid for this, although the Duchess does have a food-centric show on Netflix, and her As Ever lifestyle brand includes a food range. Last year the trademark was registered in more than a dozen product categories in Australia, including cookware and table linen.
For the Sussexes, the only acknowledgement of the business side of the trip came at the bottom of a five-page pre-tour briefing. It said: “As with many visits of this nature, a small number of private engagements are included to support broader commercial, charitable, and community objectives.”
Of course, as private citizens, the couple are not required to declare their earnings publicly, nor to account for their every move.
But Bastin, the academic, feels some of the ventures appeared “tone deaf in a cost-of-living crisis”.
And one Sydney Morning Herald columnist proclaimed: “Australia was good to Harry and Meghan. Now they want to use us as an ATM.”
Such a portrayal is “in part” unfair, says Michael Hartung, chief executive of Invictus Australia, which organised the 2018 Invictus Games – the sporting competition for wounded and sick military personal and veterans, founded by Harry in 2014.