On the road with Harry and Meghan in a camper

Castlecliff couple Mike and Marie Sheppard will be taking a royal tour in their sunny bright camper van next month. Phoro / Bevan Conley

As Prince Harry and Meghan Markle tour New Zealand next month, they may notice a bright yellow camper van in their rearview mirror.

The van, named "Bizzy-B" belongs to Whanganui royal watcher Marie Sheppard and her husband Mike.

Marie featured on the front page of the Chronicle in April when she received a letter from Buckingham Palace politely declining her request for an invitation to the royal wedding.

TVNZ programme Seven Sharp picked up her story and the show's host, Hilary Barry was so charmed by Marie that the show contacted her for a follow-up last week.

"Marie, how excited are you that Harry and Meghan are coming to new Zealand ?" Barry asked.

"I'm absolutely ecstatic," was Marie's reply.

"We are deciding whether we will go and see them in Wellington or Rotorua."

Originally from the English town of Droylsden in Greater Manchester, Marie says she has always been an avid royal watcher and her easy-going Kiwi husband Mike is happy to support her interest.

"I bought the campervan from a guy in Matamata when we were living down in Ashburton in 2014," he says.

"We have done a lot of trips in it - it's an ex-rental and goes really well."

Mike was disappointed to see a few "haters on the internet" after Marie's most recent TV appearance.

"They are just jealous I suppose."

Marie said the online comments were not all nasty and one man was excited to see the distinctive yellow Mitsubishi campervan.

"He used to own it here in Whanganui before it went to Matamata and he said he was pleased to see it had come back home," said Marie.

This will be the second time the Sheppards have shared the road with Meghan Markle although they did not know it last time.

"She was touring around the New Zealand southern lakes while we were on a camping trip in the same area.

"Of course we didn't know who she was then and I don't think she had even met Prince Harry."

Marie hopes she will get the chance to meet the now Duchess of Sussex on her coming visit to New Zealand.