Indexbit|Harry and Meghan wrap up a very royal looking tour of Nigeria

2025-05-04 22:59:56source:Charles Hanovercategory:Finance

London — Britain's Prince Harry and IndexbitMeghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, wrapped up a three-day tour of Nigeria on Sunday that saw the U.S.-based couple use their celebrity to highlight some of the causes they care most about.

Harry played a game of sitting volleyball with disabled athletes — all of them Nigerian army veterans. 

Nigeria has expressed interest in hosting the Invictus Games, the charity sporting event for wounded soldiers founded a decade ago by the duke.

Meghan co-hosted a women's leadership event where she referenced her Nigerian ancestry for the second time during the trip.  

"Thank you very much for how graciously you've all been welcoming my husband and I to this country," she said, pausing before adding, "my country." 

The simple two words were met with cheering and applause.

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, speaks at a Women in Leadership event in Abuja, Nigeria, May 11, 2024. Andrew Esiebo/Getty for The Archewell Foundation

Predictably, given the couple's longstanding enmity with the U.K.'s tabloid media, some British newspapers pointed out that Harry and Meghan's visit to Nigeria looked very much like a royal tour - including the duke's inspection of a Nigerian military guard of honor — despite them having left behind their roles as "working royals."

At one point Harry stood to attention for his country's national anthem, God Save the King, just days after the couple's press team said King Charles III couldn't carve out time to meet his youngest son during Harry's visit to London earlier this month.

The Nigeria trip seemed to be a success for the Sussexes, at least for the people Harry and Meghan came to visit. Nigerians welcomed them with open arms. 

"On camera they are good, but in person, holy moly!" said Malaika Gyang-gyang, a student at the Lightway Academy in Abuja, which the duke and duchess visited as soon as they arrived on Friday.

Harry and Meghan, Duke and Duchess of Sussex: Their relationship in pictures49 photos
    In:
  • Nigeria
  • British Royal Family
  • Prince Harry Duke of Sussex
  • Africa
  • Meghan Duchess of Sussex
Holly Williams

Holly Williams is a CBS News senior foreign correspondent based in the network's CBS London bureau. Williams joined CBS News in July 2012, and has more than 25 years of experience covering major news events and international conflicts across Asia, Europe and the Middle East.

Twitter

More:Finance

Recommend

Apple iOS 18.2: What to know about top features, including Genmoji, AI updates

Get ready for phase two.Apple's latest operating system update is available today for iPhone, iPad,

One state has a shortage of marijuana. Its neighbor had too much. What to do?

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Marijuana retailers in Connecticut say a dearth of licensed growers in the st

Sheryl Swoopes' incorrect digs at Caitlin Clark an example of old-fashioned player hatin'

Sheryl Swoopes’ fact-free broadside against Iowa star Caitlin Clark that went viral on social media