Meghan Markle and Prince Harry arrive in Melbourne on Qantas commercial flight, reportedly flying first class

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have touched down in Australia after flying Qantas commercial, first class.

Reports from Sunrise claim the royals were seated in row 3, seats E and F, of the commercial flight, likely enjoying the national carrier’s premium service.

It marks a big shift for the royals in Australia, who are now in Australia on a personal visit, and a significant juxtaposition from their prior, lavish official royal visit back in 2018.

The couple were swept away for a “private ground transfer”, avoiding the general public inside the international airport.

Speaking to Sunrise, one woman who saw Meghan on the flight said: “I don’t like her at all. Don’t come here in Australia.”

Another revealed she spoke to the royal couple, welcoming them to Australia and speaking about the couple’s children.

• The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will embark on a four-day tour of Melbourne, Canberra and Sydney from Tuesday
• The couple will visit Melbourne’s Royal Children’s Hospital, the Australian National Veterans Arts Museum and Whitten Oval, the headquarters of AFL club the Western Bulldogs, for a Movember event
• In Canberra, Prince Harry will visit the Australian War Memorial, meet Indigenous veterans, attend an Invictus Australia reception and participate in the daily Last Post Ceremony
• He will jet back to Melbourne for a guided cultural walk and visit a mental health charity, before giving the keynote speech at the InterEdge Summit
• After arriving in Sydney, the duke and duchess are set to sail around the city’s famous harbour with Invictus Australia and attend the Super Rugby Pacific clash between NSW Waratahs and Moana Pasifika

• Commitments brought the duke and duchess to Australia, with the couple using the opportunity to also visit groups that share their values or that they have long supported.
• The trip will focus on mental health, community resilience and support for veterans and their families, alongside private meetings and special projects.
• It is not an official royal tour.

• The visit has been privately funded.
• An online petition calling for Australian taxpayers not to foot the bill for policing operations related to the visit has attracted more than 45,000 signatures.
• Security and costs to keep public order were a factor in no walkabouts being scheduled.

• The pair visited Australia in 2018 as part of a 16-day tour of the Pacific, shortly after their wedding.
• Their presence attracted large crowds and was considered a success.
• In 2020, the duke and duchess announced they would step back as “senior” members of the British royal family and work to become financially independent.
• They retained their titles but are no longer working members of the royal family.
• The couple relocated to Montecito, California, before welcoming their second child, Lilibet, in 2021.