Thousands of adoring fans turned out in droves to catch a glimpse of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry as they made their way across the east coast during their whirlwind visit Down Under last week.

But despite the warm reception, a three-word request made by the Duchess of Sussex during the four day trip has ruffled some feathers.

The 44-year-old has been brutally scrutinised for inviting fans to “Call me Meg” during a tour that was already being slammed as a “faux royal trip” by critics.

According to a source familiar with public reaction, the plea was taken by many as a calculated move to project relatability despite the Duchess’s obscene wealth and famous standing.

“Encouraging people to basically ‘Call me Meg’ is being seen by critics as a carefully curated attempt to project approachability, but it is clashing with a long-established perception of her as a multi-millionaire figure with exacting, and well-known diva standards,” the source explained to RadarOnline.

“For some, it comes across less as genuine warmth and more as a calculated rebrand that does not entirely ring true.

“This kind of informality feels staged, particularly given the level of privilege and expectation that surrounds her, and that disconnect is what people are reacting to so strongly.”

Prince Harry and Meghan engaged in charitable events as they stopped off at a mental health program at Swinburne University in Melbourne and met some of the heroes from the Bondi terror attack at Bondi Beach.

The Duke of Sussex also paid a visit to the Australian War Memorial in Canberra where he met with war veterans.

The couple dabbled in commercial interests during their stay, which sparked debate over profiteering.

Meghan headlined an exclusive three-day women’s retreat called Her Best Life in Sydney pitched as a “girls weekend like no other” with tickets starting at $2699.

Promotional content also started to trickle in as Meghan filmed a MasterChef episode where she will feature as a guest judge, which could see her take home six figures according to experts. The episode is set to air later this year.