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Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have been accused of trying to be "celebrity royals" by a former royal butler. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who quit royal life six years ago, will be flying from their Montecito mansion to Australia next month for various engagements.

The trip will remind many of the royal tour the couple took in 2018 when they were working royals and newly-weds. However, as they are no longer working royals, this trip will not be for royal engagements but instead for leisure, charitable and business purposes.

While Harry and Meghan have not said much personally about the trip, a former royal butler who worked with Prince Harry has said the couple are trying to be "celebrity royals" in their post-royal life.

Grant Harrold, who worked as King Charles and Queen Camilla's butler between 2004 and 2011 before they were King and Queen, told JoeFortune: "I imagine this tour would be similar to ones they've done since quitting the Royal Family, a kind of celebrity royal tour.

"This means it looks very similar to a royal tour in all aspects - the same kind of engagements, the same meetings and photo ops - but it's not arranged through the governments.

"I think they are trying to be 'celebrity royals'.

"They want the celebrity lifestyle and the freedom that brings, but I think Harry misses his old lifestyle of regular engagements, shaking hands and meeting people."

The ex royal butler also said that Australia holds a "special place" in the couple's heart, especially as Meghan was pregnant with Prince Archie when the couple went there on a royal tour in 2018.

This is the last time they are believed to have visited Australia.

It is believed that on the couple's visit next month, the couple won't be accompanied by their children Prince Archie, six, and Princess Lilibet, four.