The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will visit Nigeria next month, but it appears Harry will still make his UK trip at the beginning of May alone without Meghan by his side
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are set to visit Nigeria next month, after the Duchess of Sussex has appeared to ‘snub’ the UK as she likely won’t be joining Harry when he visits in May.
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) announced that the Sussexes are jetting off to visit Nigeria in May as they revealed the couple will meet with Service members and host a variety of cultural activities.
The trip comes as Nigeria, along with Colombia and Israel, are considered new arrivals at the Invictus Games where they competed against the 21 nations that participated the athletic games in 2023. The trip is also a potential ‘must’ for Meghan after she revealed in her podcast series, Archetypes, that she has Nigerian ancestry which could also explain her eagerness for the trip.
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Meghan is thought not to be joining Harry when he visits the UK to celebrate ten years of the Invictus Games, but will join him for the Africa trip just two days later.
Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams said that with Nigeria hoping to host a future Invictus Games and Meghan’s ancestry links to the country, it makes sense for the couple to make the trip. However, he added that the visit is not a sign the couple wish to return to working royal life with tours and royal trips, as he added that Harry ‘has no desire to do so’.
He told the Daily Mail: “It’s [the visit to Nigeria] a very good face saver with Meghan not coming to Britain and shows a bit of PR nous.”
During the 2023 Invictus Games in Düsseldorf, Germany, Harry and Meghan bonded with the Nigerian team and they presented them with a plaque from the Chief of Defense and a loving new nickname for Meghan. The Nigerian Team nicknamed The Duchess of Sussex the Amira Ngozi Lolo. In the African country, Amira represents the name of a warrior princess from a legend while Ngozi means “blessed” and Lolo means “royal wife.”
Harry has also made a nod to his wife’s newly discovered ancestry as he gave his opening speech at last year’s games. He joked: “Now, I’m not saying we play favourites in our home, but since my wife discovered she’s of Nigerian descent, it’s likely to get a little bit more competitive this year.”
Harry and Meghan, who stepped back from royal duties in 2020, make rare visits to the UK and currently have a strained relationship with the royal family following controversial interviews and comments made in their Netflix series. Meghan in particular is less keen to visit the Uk and was last seen in the country in 2022 for the late Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral and did not attend King Charles’ coronation last year.
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James Parker is a UK-based entertainment aficionado who delves into the glitz and glamour of the entertainment industry. From Hollywood to the West End, he offers readers an insider’s perspective on the world of movies, music, and pop culture.
