Britain's Prince Harry, fresh out of school, will work as a cattlehand during a three-month stay in Australia -- which, it turns out, is not sitting well with everyone Down Under.

The 19-year-old royal's visit, which began Tuesday, is irritating republicans who claim Australians should not have to foot the estimated $400,000 that it will cost to provide him with security, Reuters reports.

The complaint is reportedly part of a stronger sentiment by Australian republicans, who want a homegrown president to replace the British monarch as their head of state.

In 1999, Australians voted to keep Harry's grandma, Britain's Queen Elizabeth, as head of state, but a strong republican movement apparently remains.

Harry, who proved to be something of a lackluster academic, is currently on a yearlong break between school and starting an army career. He will work as a wrangler (called a "jackaroo" Down Under) at several different sheep and cattle stations in the vast Australian outback during his stay. His pay will reportedly be $165 a week.

Spokeswoman Colleen Harris from the London headquarters of Harry's father, Prince Charles, declined to comment about the cost of security, but told Reuters this was a reciprocal service usually provided all around the world.

"There hasn't been an issue about this up to date anywhere else in the world," she told a news conference at Sydney's Taronga Zoo.

Harry later made his first public appearance at the zoo, nervously patting a koala but proving quite adept at handling a spiny echidna.