Prince Harry and Meghan Markle plan royal Australian visit

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are reportedly utilising their upcoming visit to Australia as a strategic stepping stone for a series of quasi-royal tours.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, who are expected to arrive in the country later this month, are focused on achieving "utmost success" from a brand perspective.

A source told The Sun: "It is a significant joint tour and could prove to be a blueprint for future tours together of this type."

A formal spokesperson for the couple clarified the nature of the visit, stating: "Prince Harry and Meghan, Duke and Duchess of Sussex, will visit Australia to take part in several private, business and philanthropic engagements."

This international push coincides with the Duchess’s efforts to expand her lifestyle brand, As Ever, which has reportedly grown at an exponential rate over the last year.

Writing for Woman and Home, commentator Emily Andrews noted that Meghan has been "pushing to do more as As Ever has grown exponentially over the past 12 months."

The commercial aspect of the couple's work remains a primary focus as they distance themselves from traditional royal duties.

Andrews revealed that a member of the Duchess's team commented on the difference between their ventures and typical streaming tie-ins, noting: "Netflix do sell merchandise [for hits] like Bridgerton or Squid Game, but it's only a side hustle to them."

This upcoming Australian tour follows their previous high-profile visits to Nigeria and Colombia, signalling a busy future for the couple as they continue to develop their independent philanthropic and commercial projects.