Harry and Meghan's camp is said to be frustrated by negative headlines that has engulfed their visit even before the Sussexes arrived, a source has told Daily Mail.
Stories about the couple using the trip as a quasi Royal tour while also supporting their commercial interests with paid appearances began long before their Qantas flight touched down in Melbourne on Tuesday morning.
Large crowds gathered at the Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne for the first stop on the couple's whirlwind tour, just hours after they disembarked from the 15-hour flight from Los Angeles.
They spent 90 minutes meeting and taking selfies with young patients before they were given a tour of the wards where they made bedside visits and took part in a therapy program.
But behind the smiles, the Sussexes and their team are understood to be upset about how they've been received in Australia.
They were also said to be surprised by backlash among politicians such as Victorian Opposition Leader Jess Wilson over publicly-funded police protection.
‘To be fair, they have tried to make the trip mostly about charitable endeavours and limit costs,' a source told Daily Mail.
The couple have largely relied on private security and there has been little police presence at their smaller engagements so far.
The source added: 'Prince Harry has always had an affection for Australia and for a long time felt it was a home away from home, having done his gap year here in his youth.
'He in particular is known to keep up with his own press and would be taken aback by some strong reactions in the media and the comment sections.'
The reception from many Aussies online wasn't so warm, a stark contrast from their first visit back in 2018, when they were newly married and expecting their first child.
'Do the kids even know who they are?' one commented on the hospital visit.
Another commented: 'Those flashing lights must be hurting the kids eyes.'
Others pointed out that the couple are no longer working royals and should not be given special treatment or have any of their trip funded by Australian taxpayers.
'The Australian taxpayer should not be out of pocket for this tour. I believe that we are contributing to the cost of protection on this occasion. As they are private citizens, they should be meeting all of their own expenses,' one woman wrote.
