Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have hinted they are planning more quasi-royal African tours in the future after thanking Nigeria for the “first of many memorable trips.”
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex flew back to California after leaving Abuja yesterday following a three-day visit to the country at the invitation of the military.
And the couple hailed their stay in Nigeria as “unforgettable” in a press release on sussex.com today after Harry’s Invictus Games competition-related visit.
Their statement added: “The Duke and Duchess wish to extend their deepest gratitude to all the event organisers, military officers and the entire Nigerian community for their tremendous hospitality and the first of many memorable trips.”
But the Sussexes made no mention of the news that emerged overnight that their Archewell Foundation was listed as “defaulting” by a US charity regulator. Sources close to the couple claimed last night that this was because a check went missing in the mail.
The couple hailed their stay in Nigeria as “unforgettable” in a press release on Sussex.com.
This was the eighth press release issued on Sussex.com about the couple’s trip to Nigeria, which took them to Abuja and Lagos and ran last week from Friday to Sunday.
Harry and Meghan are believed to have flown from Abuja to London Heathrow yesterday before heading to Los Angeles to join their children Archie and Lilibet.
Today, in a press release about the end of their trip, the Sussexes referred to the welcome they received in Lagos and their attendance at a polo match.
The statement read: “Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex concluded their unforgettable trip to Nigeria with a cultural reception in Lagos and a polo match to raise funds for Nigeria: Unconquered.”
‘The couple were greeted with a beautiful pre-game parade – a vibrant display of enthusiastic young people dressed in polo gear, proudly waving the green and white Nigerian flags – followed by a procession of older children on horseback, setting the tone for a day filled with sport and spirit.
‘The friendly rivalry between the teams, aptly named Duke vs Duchess, added a layer of excitement to the event, with the Duchess’ team taking victory with a score of 5-3. The day concluded with the couple presenting medals, a gesture of gratitude for the prolific talent and dedication of the players.
Harry and Meghan after a charity polo match at the Ikoyi Polo Club in Lagos on May 12
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle visit the governor’s office of Lagos State in Nigeria on May 12
“The Duke and Duchess would like to express their deepest gratitude to all the event organisers, military officers and the entire Nigerian community for their tremendous hospitality and the first of many memorable trips.”
It follows Harry and Meghan’s visit to promote soldiers’ mental health and empower young people.
The couple attended events related to Harry’s Invictus Games, which Nigeria intends to host in the future.
The Sussexes were also welcomed at the Lagos State Government House and met with military officials at the Defense Headquarters in Abuja.
After their trip, Harry and Meghan’s Archewell Foundation claimed that a check disappearing in the mail is the reason it was declared “delinquent” by a US charity regulator.
The Duke and Duchess’ organization is “not in good standing” according to the Registry of Charities and Fundraising Organizations in California, where the couple lives.
The registry said Archewell failed to properly file its annual report and renewal fees and has prohibited it from raising funds or distributing charitable funds for now.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle represent God Save The King in Abuja, Nigeria, on May 11.
Meghan smiles as she receives flowers during a sitting volleyball match in Abuja on May 11.
But Sussex sources insist the paperwork was submitted on time, and the discrepancy is due to a “check” accompanying the documents that disappeared in the mail.
They also maintain that “a new check has been sent,” which should mean the issue will be “resolved quickly,” but the revelation will likely cause embarrassment.
An Archewell source said: ‘For the foundation, everything was submitted on time. Part of that presentation was a physical check. It appears that that check was never received, which we only learned about when this delinquency notice was posted.
“A new check has been mailed and we anticipate this will be resolved quickly and reflected in the records within seven business days.”
It comes as the couple returned yesterday from a high-profile three-day visit to Abuja and Lagos in Nigeria, which was dubbed a royal tour in all but name.
During the trip, the Sussexes announced a partnership between the Archewell Foundation and the Geanco Foundation, a charity in Nigeria that leads surgical missions, promotes maternal health and offers scholarships to young victims of terrorism.
Meghan listens to speakers at a Women in Leadership event in Abuja, Nigeria, on May 11.
But on May 3 the Registrar of Charities and Fundraisers sent a “notice of default” letter to Archewell saying the foundation is “classified as defaulting” for “failure to submit required annual reports and/or renewal fees.” “.
The letter says an organization listed as “delinquent” is prohibited from “soliciting or disbursing charitable funds” and its registration may be “suspended or revoked.”
A physical check was part of the file sent to the California Attorney General’s Office and it is understood that a new one has been sent to resolve the matter.
The letter from the California Registry of Charities and Fundraisers warns: ‘An organization listed as delinquent is not in good standing and is prohibited from engaging in conduct for which registration is required, including the solicitation or disbursement of charitable funds.
‘The organization may also be subject to sanctions and its registration may be suspended or revoked by the Registry.
Prince Harry is welcomed at Defense Headquarters in Abuja, Nigeria, on May 10.
Meghan takes a selfie with students with Harry behind at Lightway Academy in Abuja on May 10
“Once you submit your delinquency records, you will be notified of the amount of late fees due.”
It is understood that the foundation believes its tax returns were filed on time and a check was sent, and was only informed of any problems when the delinquency notice was published.
Now that a new check has been posted, expect the issue to be resolved quickly and to be reflected in the records in just over a week.
The Archewell Foundation is a nonprofit organization created by Harry and Meghan when they moved to the US after stepping down as royals in 2020.
On its website, it says its mission is to “show up, do good,” adding: “We meet the moment by showing up, taking action, and using our unparalleled care to uplift and unite communities, local and global, through acts of service”. and compassion.’
The foundation is separate from the couple’s Archewell media and business divisions that have been involved in Netflix and Spotify productions.
A notice of delinquency letter was sent to the Archewell Foundation on May 3 saying the charity is “characterized as delinquent” for “failure to submit required annual reports and/or renewal fees.”
It follows Harry and Meghan’s visit to Nigeria from Friday to Sunday to promote soldiers’ mental health and empower young people.
The couple were invited to the West African nation by its military and attended events related to Harry’s Invictus Games, which Nigeria is looking to host in the future.
The couple was also received at the Lagos State Government House and met with military officials at the Defense Headquarters in Abuja.
According to tax returns revealed by Archewell last December, the organization had suffered an $11m (£9m) decline in donations in 2022 compared to the previous year.
Records showed the charity received just over $2 million (£1.6 million) in charitable donations in 2022, compared to $13 million (£10 million) in 2021.
And while in 2021 Archewell had reported revenue of more than $9m (£7m), filings from December 2023 showed that by 2022 it had posted a loss of more than $674,000 (£537,000) due to costs of $2.67m (£2.13m). ).