In Australia, where a move towards a republic can sometimes seem inevitable, a visit by a member of the royal family – which typically produces national hype, if not hysteria – has long been perhaps the most valuable asset held by the nation’s monarchists.

But it turns out that the monarchists, and the nation, received slightly more than they had expected in the leadup to the arrival on Monday of  Prince Harry and the Duchess of Sussex,

Shortly after flying into Sydney on Monday at about 7.30am the couple announced that they were expecting their first child. The news prompted further hype in the Australian media and a celebratory tweet from Australian prime minister Scott Morrison. 

“Australia…