Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have officially touched down in Nigeria for a three-day private visit, marking their first trip to the West African nation as a couple. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were invited by Nigeria's chief of defense staff, Christopher Musa, the country's highest-ranking military official, and are accompanied by People magazine's chief foreign correspondent Simon Perry, who will be covering their various outings.
The trip, which aims to highlight the Invictus Games and promote mental health awareness, has sparked a wave of excitement among the Nigerian public. However, some royal experts suggest that the visit is also an attempt by the couple to boost their popularity and reframe their image following their exit from royal duties in 2020 and the subsequent fallout with the royal family.
British broadcaster and photographer Helena Chard told Fox News Digital that the trip is "aimed at boosting the couple's popularity following their exit from royal duties in 2020." She alleged that "the couple needs positive PR as they are often reminded of their failures" and that "they also seem to crave power and seek things to elevate themselves."
Kinsey Schofield, host of the "To Di For Daily" podcast, echoed these sentiments, telling Fox News Digital that the couple's decision to give a veteran People magazine reporter access to their trip "completely contradicts their Megxit manifesto" and that "giving access to People magazine versus a publication like the Washington Post or The New York Times tells you that their ultimate objective is to win over Hollywood."
Prince Harry and his stunning wife Meghan .
Cutting out toxic relatives & removing yourself from toxic environment does wonders for all of us and it’s certainly working for these two. #HarryandMeghaninNigeria pic.twitter.com/JSifucnChT — Claire (@claireXanda) May 10, 2024
However, not all royal watchers are critical of the couple's visit. Doug Eldridge, an agent, celeb branding expert, and founder of Achilles PR, told Fox News Digital that the trip will help cast aside the ongoing royal drama that has followed the couple. "They are [also] getting back to the very roots that I've suggested in the past - philanthropy," he shared, noting that Harry was the driving force behind the Invictus Games and that his late mother, Princess Diana, was known for her charity work in Africa. The Sussexes' itinerary includes delivering a welcome address at the inaugural mental health summit GEANCO Foundation at the Lightway Academy in Abuja, where Markle spoke about their 2-year-old daughter, Princess Lilibet, and told students, "I see myself in all of you." Harry will also meet with injured service members at a military hospital and attend a training session for the organization Nigeria: Unconquered.
The moment Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan were gifted beaded necklaces by the school children at the light academy in Abuja this morning. #HarryAndMeghanInNigeria pic.twitter.com/6i94wx4x6Z — Glow Lee (@GlowanneLee) May 10, 2024
On Saturday, the couple will attend a reception hosted by the chief of defence staff in honor of military families, and Markle will co-host an event on Women in Leadership with Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, director general of the World Trade Organization. On Sunday, they will attend a basketball clinic with Giants of Africa, a cultural reception, and a polo fundraiser for Nigeria: Unconquered.
The trip comes amid ongoing tensions between the Sussexes and the royal family, which were further exacerbated by Harry's recent visit to London without meeting his father, King Charles III, who is undergoing treatment for cancer. The couple's troubled relationship with the royal family has been well-documented since their departure from royal duties, including their bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey in 2021 and Harry's memoir, "Spare," which was published in 2023.
