Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s royal-style trip to Nigeria is “a bold statement that they refuse to accept that they are no longer royals”, an expert has claimed.
speaking to MirrorAuthor Tom Quinn commented that the 72-hour visit “confirmed the worst fears” of the Duke of Sussex’s family, and has left the King and Prince of Wales “absolutely furious”.
“Everything you would expect from an official royal visit was there: the receptions, the visits to schools and charities, to wounded and disabled soldiers,” he explained.
“Meghan and Harry’s speeches and their entire attitude have been designed to give the impression that they are still fully paid-up royals and William and his father, King Charles, don’t like that at all.”
Tom said Harry and Meghan appear to have gone “dishonest” and alleged the Firm was concerned about “trying to do something quickly”.
Speaking to The Mirror, author Tom Quinn said the 72-hour visit “confirmed the worst fears” of the Duke of Sussex’s family.
“For Charles and William, it’s as if Meghan and Harry are saying, ‘We don’t need your permission to work as royals; “We will do it on our own terms whenever and wherever we want,” she added.
Much of the Sussexes’ visit felt like a royal tour.
However, the duke and duchess set foot in the West African nation on their own terms after being invited by its army for the three-day trip.
Sources at the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office have confirmed to MailOnline that Harry and Meghan were “visiting Nigeria in a private capacity”, and that the UK Government was “not involved in organizing or facilitating their programme”.
But while Harry and Meghan stepped down as senior royals in 2020, their visit had several similarities to overseas trips taken by working members of the Royal Family.
Royal expert Michael Cole told MailOnline that although the couple were on “a private visit from two royal figures”, they “exploited their royal status to the limit and in every way, trying to give the impression that it was real”.
He said that although the Sussexes’ trip was “not a state visit, an official visit or a royal tour”, it appeared to be a “tour proposed by Buckingham Palace and sanctioned by the British government”.
He added that the couple “succeeded to such an extent that they will return to California very satisfied with their three days in Nigeria.”
Tom said Harry and Meghan appear to have gone “dishonest” and claimed the Firm was concerned about “trying to do something quickly”. William and Charles photographed earlier this month
Sources at the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office have confirmed to MailOnline that Harry and Meghan were “visiting Nigeria in a private capacity”, and that the UK Government “was not involved in organizing or facilitating their programme”.
But while Harry and Meghan stepped down as senior royals in 2020, their visit had several similarities to overseas trips taken by working members of the Royal Family.
Royal expert Michael Cole told MailOnline that although the couple were on “a private visit from two royal figures”, they “exploited their royal status to the limit and in every way, trying to give the impression that it was real”.
The dress from the California-based brand was also released as part of a collection in 2018, which is the year Harry and Meghan married at Windsor Castle.
The Sussexes also enjoyed cultural events, a trip to a polo club, meeting wounded soldiers at a military hospital and playing adaptive sports.
Former Mail On Sunday royal correspondent Charlotte Wace wrote in The times: ‘Despite the similarities to their tours before they stepped back as royals in 2020, there were key differences.
‘The press pack had been replaced by a reporter and a photographer. The most significant thing is that they represented themselves and not the monarch and were free to choose their schedule.
“Compared to trips in the past, there seemed to be less paperwork and more selfies.”
Others pointed out the nods to fashion in the outfits worn by Meghan, including a striking backless dress by American designer Heidi Merrick called ‘The Windsor’.
The dress from the California-based brand was also released as part of a collection in 2018, which is the year Harry and Meghan married at Windsor Castle.