Speculation is rife that Meghan Markle and Prince Harry may not receive the reception they are hoping for when they head to Australia next month. The couple will visit Australia in mid-April to take part in a number of private, business, and philanthropic engagements.

This marks the first time they have visited the country since 2018, where they stayed for nine days during their 16-day royal tour of the South Pacific. Joined by TalkTV's Mark Dolan, Sky News Australia host Paul Murray said that Australia holds a "special place" in the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's hearts, but was quick to declare: "I'm pretty sure Australia's not massive fans."

Mark responded: "Australia has tackled illegal immigration very successfully and given the fact that Harry and Meghan are on their way, I think it's time to reactivate operation sovereign borders, Paul. Air strikes. Get the boats out."

The last time the Sussexes visited Australia, enormous crowds cheered them through the streets, but Mark isn't convinced they will receive the same reception this time around.

He added: "I can't speak for your viewers but I know lots of Australian viewers of the Mark Dolan show don't want to see Harry and Meghan. The reason why it went that well in 2018 is because they didn't know Meghan Markle very well.

"They know her now and what do they know her to be? A gold-digging grifter."

Moments before, the two presenters discussed the bombshell claim in a new book that Queen Camilla told a friend that Harry, 41, had been "brainwashed" by Meghan, 44, after they got married.

While Meghan and Harry have hit out at Tom Bower, the author of Betrayal: Power, Deceit and the Fight for the Future of the Royal Family, Mark has jumped to his defence, saying Bower would risk ending up in court if he published claims that were untrue.

Mark said: "Tom Bower is one of the most feared biographers in the world. He's gone after Richard Branson, Tony Blair and Meghan Markle. None of those people have successfully sued him because like you, Paul, he's an elite level journalist who checks his facts.

"Don't forget, these publishing companies are not stupid, they are not going to publish things that aren't true because they know they'll wind up in court. He's a fearsome figure."

The TalkTV host questioned how anyone could disagree, claiming that since Harry got married, he now "hates his country, hates his family and hates being a royal".