Prince Harry and Meghan's Unofficial Visit to Nigeria

Prince Harry's travels continue. Following a brief visit to the United Kingdom, where he featured in the ceremony for the tenth anniversary of the Invictus Games, the sports event for wounded veterans he sponsors, the Duke of Sussex flew to Nigeria with his wife Meghan for a visit organized by the local army's general staff. A visit 'on a private, unofficial basis,' as emphasized by the British High Commissioner in Nigeria, Richard Montgomery. The visit in Nigeria began with a trip to a school in Abuja, the Lights Academy, marking the three-day visit of Harry and Meghan to Nigeria. 'They do not represent the United Kingdom,' as the British High Commissioner in Nigeria, Richard Montgomery, made clear, specifying that the visit of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex is 'on a private, unofficial basis.' Harry and Meghan were invited to Abuja by the chief of defense staff of Nigeria. Speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria, Montgomery described the visit as 'fantastic' but noted that it 'does not represent the government of His Majesty.' During their 72-hour stay in Nigeria, the couple will visit the country's military headquarters and promote the Invictus Games, which Nigeria hopes to host one day. After meeting at Heathrow, with Meghan arriving yesterday from Los Angeles, the two arrived in Abuja this morning and will later travel to Lagos. Nigerian officials have confirmed that the couple's trip will last until Monday. The visit's agenda includes visits to military hospitals today and participation in a training meeting for the charity Nigeria: Unconquered, which collaborates with the Invictus Games. Later, Harry will meet with wounded military personnel and their families. In the afternoon, Meghan will lead a Women in Leadership event with Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the Director-General of the World Trade Organization. The (secret) arrival of Meghan has sparked discussions, as the Duchess of Sussex landed yesterday at Heathrow after flying alone from Los Angeles before meeting her husband in the airport's VIP Windsor Suite. The two then boarded the overnight British Airways flight to Abuja, sitting in the Boeing 777's first-class section, separated from other passengers by a curtain. Tomorrow, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will attend a basketball game between the team of the Chief of Defense Staff and the Duke's team. On Sunday, Harry and Meghan will meet with the governor of Lagos, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and then participate in a basketball game at a school. A final reception will be held on Monday before the conclusion of the visit. In 2022, the Duchess of Sussex revealed she discovered through a genealogical test that she is 43 percent Nigerian. The trip that begins today is Harry and Meghan's first trip to Africa since 2019, when on their last official visit as royals, they visited South Africa, Malawi, Angola, and Botswana. It also marks their first trip to Nigeria as a couple. 'It was very nice to return to Britain,' said Prince Harry, arriving in Nigeria after the brief visit to the United Kingdom where he was the protagonist of the ceremony for the tenth anniversary of the Invictus Games, the sports event for wounded veterans he sponsors. The Duke of Sussex, during the few days spent in London, also received further confirmation of his popularity, with many fans greeting him at the events he attended, especially the service at St Paul's Cathedral. However, there remains regret, as highlighted by the popular British press, for the missed meeting with his father, King Charles III, due to the sovereign's busy schedule, who returned to full public activity after a period of rest decided by doctors for a cancer diagnosis and the start of anti-cancer therapy. According to many, this could have been another moment of reconciliation between father and son, after the one that occurred in February, compared to the relationships with the Royal Family marked by the traumatic break of the 'rebel' prince in 2020 and his subsequent move to the USA with Meghan, as well as the more recent tensions arising in particular with the publication of Harry's autobiography titled 'Spare'.