Prince Harry and Meghan vow to carry out more tours after Nigeria trip success
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have vowed to carry out more overseas tours following a successful three days in Nigeria.
Prince Harry, 39, said it was “hugely important” for the couple to meet people face-to-face and listen to their concerns in order to instigate change.
Meghan, 42, said she could see herself in the young children she met in Nigeria and hoped to empower them for the future.
The couple landed back in Los Angeles on Wednesday after an 18-hour flight from Abuja and were quickly whisked away to be reunited with their children, Prince Archie, five, and Princess Lilibet, three.
They hailed the quasi-royal tour, which was deemed a “private visit”, as “fantastic” and said they hoped it would be the “first of many memorable trips.”
However, it was overshadowed by the revelation, just as they left the country, that their Archewell Foundation had been sent a “delinquency notice” by Californian authorities for failing to file its annual report or related fees on time.
It later emerged that Archewell had sent a $200 (£158) cheque which had not been processed by the Attorney General’s office.
A statement released by California’s Department of Justice on Tuesday night said the delinquency notice had been removed and that the Archewell Foundation was “current and in good standing”.
The Sussexes’ three-day visit to Nigeria was largely focused on promoting the Invictus Games and the country’s efforts to help rehabilitate injured military personnel.
It came after Nigeria entered a team at last year’s event, in Dusseldorf, Germany, for the first time. The African nation is now hoping to host the sporting contest in future.
The Duke told People magazine: “It is hugely important for us to meet directly with people, supporting our causes and listening, in order to bring about solutions, support and positive change.
“There’s only so much one can do from home and over Zoom, so we look forward to travelling more because the work matters.
“Whether it’s the Archewell Foundation, Invictus or any of our other causes, there will always be reasons to meet the people at the heart of our work.”
The Duke has long spoken of his love of Africa, where he has enjoyed many private holidays.
He has revealed that, in the early days of his relationship with the Duchess, he whisked her to Botswana and in 2019 Buckingham Palace signed off on a plan for them to move to South Africa, before it was scrapped when it was leaked to a newspaper.
“I’m so happy with the growth of Invictus and to include Nigeria,” he said.
“You know what Africa means to me over the years. It is a very, very special place, and to be able to include Nigeria now [in Invictus], I’m very happy.”
The Duchess revealed on her Archetypes podcast in 2022 that she had discovered she was “43 per cent Nigerian”.
She said of her first visit to the country: “It was incredibly memorable and special.
“That alone is the best souvenir to take with us – all the memories we’ve made.”
Referring to the message of empowerment she shared with a group of young students on their first day in the country, the Duchess said: “I saw myself in them. I see the potential in all of these young girls – and, by the way, in these young boys as well.
“It’s what we see in our own children – to give them that promise and excitement for their futures.”
