They are here for the Invictus Games. The hysteria, though, around everything royal has eclipsed that a bit. It’s been sent into the stratosphere by the announcement on Tuesday that they are expecting a little royal in the northern Spring.

Australia has been captivated by the down to earth, warm and inviting newly-married-soon-to-be-parents.

There were the smile-inducing scenes of a young boy at Dubbo stroking Harry’s beard and giving Meghan a huge hug. Can’t imagine him doing that to Scott Morrison (even if he had a beard). And let’s not forget Harry’s “I’ve got the wife” umbrella-holding aside and the hilarious fly-swatting routine.

There have been nice touches –  baking banana bread to take to a farm, crouching down to speak to a 98-year-old royal fan in Sydney, sitting on Bondi Beach in leis. 

And in return the fans have come out. In Melbourne sighted in the crowd were two schoolgirls waving placards which read “Detention is worth it” and “Fresh Prince with Red Hair”. One woman, in a bid to grab a coveted selfie, was waving “Harry I wagged school in 1983 to meet your parents”. And a girl who had proclaimed “Been here since 4am, loved you since I was eight” burst into tears when the prince gave her a hug. Awww.

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The headlines screamed approval: Harry and Meghan Bring Rain (yes, all the way from England), Queen of Victoria (bad luck, Elizabeth), Royal Rebels (nothing new there for Harry)

Every Australian outfit Meghan wears has been scrutinised (the websites of the designers buckling under the strain of the inquisitive). Who had heard of Karen Gee before THAT white dress  –  the first shot of Meghan after the baby news. The blue Dion Lee midi-dress worn in Melbourne? Custom made … but coming to a website near you. The royals select and buy their own clothes and often they have a backstory. Cue the flat pumps from Rothy’s made from recycled plastic, and the Outland jeans the Duchess wore in Dubbo, which are sustainably produced.

It’s great she’s supporting “Buy Australia” and giving some of our lesser-known designers a colossal, global boost. 

The royals tour still has 12 days to go – including Tonga, Fiji and the Land of the Long White Cloud. Plenty of time for royalists to swoon over frocks and frolics, and for republicans to gnash their teeth.

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