Meghan Markle shuns her royal title alongside Prince Harry in Australia

During the opening day of Prince Harry and Meghan’s four-day Australian tour, the Duchess of Sussex adopted a notably informal stance when meeting the public in Melbourne.

When Steve Cotterill, Australia's inaugural poet laureate, enquired about proper forms of address at the Australian National Veterans' Art Museum, Prince Harry responded with a shrug: "However you like."

His wife offered her own suggestion: "Call me Meg?"

The relaxed exchange set the tone for the couple's engagements with military veterans throughout the day.

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Prior to the museum visit, hospital workers at a Melbourne children's facility had expressed similar uncertainty about royal protocol.

Staff were reassured by an aide that a casual approach would be welcomed. "Harry and Meghan is fine," one employee confirmed. "They're pretty relaxed."

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex received an enthusiastic greeting from Melbourne residents throughout their first day of engagements.

Well-wishers presented the couple with handcrafted artwork and knitted floral arrangements as they made their way through the crowds.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle landed in Melbourne on Tuesday morning, marking the start of a four-day Australian visit.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex made the Royal Children's Hospital their first port of call, where hundreds of patients and their families had assembled to greet them.

The couple devoted nearly 40 minutes to meeting the crowd, taking photographs and chatting with young cancer patients during what became a 90-minute engagement that overran its scheduled time.

When asked for a message to Australians, Harry expressed his gratitude, saying it was "great" to be there and adding: "Thanks for having us back."

The hospital visit carried particular personal resonance for Harry, whose grandmother Queen Elizabeth II officially opened the facility in 1963 before returning in 2011 when it moved to new premises.

King Charles and Diana, Princess of Wales, had also toured the hospital during their 1985 visit to Australia.

Following the extended engagement, the Duke of Sussex returned to his hotel, while Meghan continued her schedule with a separate appointment.

The couple's previous Australian trip was their official royal tour in 2018, which took place shortly after their wedding.

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