Senior British official says Harry and Meghan are NOT representing King on Nigeria trip

The senior British official in Nigeria has seen fit to issue a statement on the Duke and Duchess of Suffolk’s visit, saying they are not representing the King there. The British High Commissioner to the country spoke as photographs were taken of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at an event in the African country.

Their visit is primarily to promote the Invictus Games – which Harry founded in 2014 – but many observers have questioned its resemblance to a tour undertaken by senior members of the Royal Family, meeting dancers, participating in games and shaking hands with everyone.

Harry and Meghan stepped down as members of the royal family in 2020, and the British High Commissioner to Nigeria was quick to dispel any notion that they were on official business, the Express reported.

Richard Montgomery said in comments reported by the News Agency of Nigeria: “It is great that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are visiting Nigeria, which I understand is at the invitation of the Defense Headquarters.

“But they are visiting in a private capacity, not an official capacity. So the British High Commission is not involved in organizing or facilitating their programme. They do not represent the work of Her Majesty’s Government on this visit.”

Harry founded the Invictus Games to help rehabilitate injured and ill service members and veterans, including Nigerian soldiers fighting a 14-year war against Islamic extremists. He and Meghan, visiting the West African nation for the first time at the invitation of its military, arrived in the capital Abuja early this morning, according to defense spokesman Brigadier General Tukur Gusau.

The couple visited Lightway Academy, which receives support from the Archewell Foundation to educate and train young girls affected by conflict in Nigeria. As they kicked off an inaugural mental health summit organized by local non-profit GEANCO, which partners with their foundation, the couple were greeted by a dance band and a crowd of excited students and teachers.

“We have to acknowledge those amazing dance moves,” Meghan said. “My husband was excited to jump up.” They then went into the classrooms to talk to the children, who showed them the robot cars they had built.

They spoke to the students about mental health and about their own children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. “In some cases around the world… there is a stigma when it comes to mental health. Too many people don’t want to talk about it,” Harry said.

“So will you promise that after today you won’t be scared of us anymore, you won’t be insecure about your sanity anymore?” Meghan praised her husband’s openness.

“Do you understand why I’m married to him?” she said of Harry to cheers before urging the schoolboys to never be ashamed of their experiences in life. “It is a complete honor to have our first visit to Nigeria, to be here with all of you. We believe in you. We believe in your future,” she said.

Student Nnenna Okorie could not hide her excitement to meet the couple. “She is the most beautiful human being ever,” she said. “I admire her so much and then Harry. I love how he is so supportive.”

The couple will meet with wounded soldiers and their families in what Nigerian officials said was a show of support for improving soldiers’ morale and welfare. “This engagement with Invictus gives us the opportunity to recover our soldiers,” said Abidemi Marquis, the director of sports at the Nigerian Defense Headquarters.

Harry served in Afghanistan as an Apache helicopter co-pilot, after which he founded the Invictus Games in 2014 to offer wounded veterans and service members the challenge of competing in sporting events similar to the Paralympics. Nigeria was among the nations that participated in last year’s edition of the games.

During their stay, the couple will also attend basketball and volleyball matches and meet with local non-governmental organizations in Abuja and Lagos who are receiving support from them. Meghan will also host an event on women in leadership with Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, director-general of the World Trade Organization, according to their spokesperson Charlie Gipson.

The Nigerian military has touted the Invictus Games as one that could help rehabilitate thousands of personnel fighting Islamic extremists Boko Haram and their factions since 2009, when they launched an insurgency. “80 per cent of our soldiers who have been involved in this recovery program are getting better (and) their outlook on life is positive,” Mr Marquis said.

“The recovery program gave them the opportunity to improve their personal self-esteem, improve their mental health and emotional intelligence.”