Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been accused of using a visit to a children’s hospital as a ‘photo opportunity’ by a conservative commentator.

Large crowds gathered at the Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne for the first stop of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex‘s four-day tour of Australia on Tuesday.

They arrived just hours after stepping off a 15-hour business class flight from Los Angeles to Melbourne on a Qantas Boeing 787 Dreamliner.

The Sussexes spent 90 minutes meeting and taking selfies with young cancer patients before they were given a tour of the wards, where they made bedside visits and took part in a therapy program.

However, the couple have come under fire from American right-wing pundit Megyn Kelly, who is a long-time critic of Meghan and once referred to her as a ‘fraud’.

‘She goes to a children’s hospital where they focus on cancer victims and makes it into a photo op for her,’ Kelly said during her self-titled podcast on Tuesday night.

‘Of course, God forbid they just go and visit the sick children in Melbourne. They have to have cameras and get their cheers and applause.

‘Like, how many times have you gone to do charitable work and you just make sure you’ve got your cameras in tow so that you get the credit? That’s the bottom line.’

A visit by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to a children's hospital has been criticised by conservative commentator Megyn Kelly (pictured) as using it for a 'photo opportunity'
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A visit by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to a children’s hospital has been criticised by conservative commentator Megyn Kelly (pictured) as using it for a ‘photo opportunity’

Large crowds gathered at the Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne for the first stop on the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's four-day tour of Australia on Tuesday (pictured)
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Large crowds gathered at the Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne for the first stop on the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s four-day tour of Australia on Tuesday (pictured)

Some social media users raised concerns that patients in the crowd, who were initially wearing face masks, may have been immunocompromised during the event amid close contact with large crowds – and the couple.

‘I am extremely upset and this hospital needs to answer some serious questions,’ one person wrote on X following the meet and greet.

‘These children have compromised immune systems and who in the hell told the three children in masks to take their masks off when Harry and Meghan got there.’

Another user shared a screenshot of the complaint they sent to the hospital claiming the children’s health had been ‘compromised by a PR stunt’.

‘I am totally disgusted (by) the lack of duty of care provided to the children who were corralled and paraded in front of the Sussexes today,’ they wrote.

The Daily Mail has contacted the hospital and the office of the Duke and Duchess.

The crowds were modest during the first day of the Sussexes’ visit, compared with the rapturous response they received during their royal tour in 2018.

However, people waiting to catch a glimpse of the couple were friendly, displaying genuine affection for Harry who they say is more like an Aussie than the other royals and a ‘great bloke’.

Some social media users raised concerns that members of the crowd may have been immuno-compromised by coming into contact with a large number of people

Some social media users raised concerns that members of the crowd may have been immuno-compromised by coming into contact with a large number of people

Before the arrival of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, some children wore face masks
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Before the arrival of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, some children wore face masks

Social media users questioned why the children had to take their masks off as the couple (pictured) arrived at the hospital
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Social media users questioned why the children had to take their masks off as the couple (pictured) arrived at the hospital

Do YOU think this was a heartfelt visit or a headline grab?

Asked if the couple had anything to say to the Australian public while entering the museum, Harry could be heard telling a reporter: ‘Thanks for having us back.’

But behind the smiles, the Sussexes and their team are understood to be upset about how they’ve been received in Australia – even before they arrived.

Stories about the couple using the trip as a quasi-royal tour while also supporting their commercial interests with paid appearances began long before they arrived in Melbourne.

They were also said to be surprised by the backlash from politicians, including 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 the Daily Mail.

‘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 couple have largely relied on private security and there has been little police presence at their smaller engagements so far.

Prince Harry appeared in good spirits during a visit to Whitten Oval, the home of AFL club the Western Bulldogs, for a Movember event on Wednesday.

He then travelled to Canberra to visit the Australian War Memorial.

Meghan’s movements remain a mystery, with no official events listed on her itinerary.