PRINCE Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, are gearing up for their first non-official royal tour of Nigeria, according to the UK Daily Mail.
The couple has been invited to Nigeria by the country’s chief of defence staff following their connection at the Invictus Games Dusseldorf in Germany last September.
Their Nigerian itinerary is filled with ‘cultural activities’ for this unofficial royal visit, including meetings with service members and their families. Nigerian media reports suggest the couple will also participate in traditional cultural activities during their stay.
The decision by the Sussexes to accept the invitation has reportedly left the country’s defence headquarters feeling ‘honoured’ and ‘delighted’, according to local newspapers.
Meghan’s revelation in 2022 about her Nigerian heritage adds a personal touch to this visit. In a conversation with Nigerian-American comedian Ziwe Fumudoh on her podcast Archetypes, Meghan disclosed that she discovered she is 43 per cent Nigerian through a genealogy test a couple of years ago. She expressed her eagerness to delve deeper into her heritage, a sentiment shared by many Nigerian women she has spoken to.
The timing of this trip is noteworthy, as it comes just days after Prince Harry’s visit to Britain for the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games. Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams believes the visit holds strategic significance, particularly with Nigeria aspiring to host future Invictus Games and Meghan’s ancestral ties to the country.
However, Fitzwilliams dismisses speculation that this indicates a return to public duties for the Sussexes. He asserts that Prince Harry harbours no such desire, suggesting that the Nigerian visit serves as a positive public relations move amid Meghan’s absence from events in Britain.
The tour is anticipated to shed light on the couple’s philanthropic endeavours and foster cultural exchange between Nigeria and the Sussexes. Stay tuned for updates on their Nigerian journey.
