News that Meghan Markle is expecting a baby has come as welcome relief to those in Britain.

The Duchess's pregnancy has been announced as the couple begin their tour of Australia.

All up there are 76 engagements on their tour of Australia, Tonga, Fiji and New Zealand.

Royal Correspondent Robert Hardman told Mike Hosking the pregnancy hasn't come as a surprise but it's still huge news.

"Everybody loves a story like this, and it's a pretty grim political situation in Britain at the moment, [so] I think everybody is rather relieved to have something else to talk about."

LISTEN ABOVE AS ROBERT HARDMAN SPEAKS WITH MIKE HOSKING