Meghan Markle has revealed that her daughter Princess Lilibet loves to dance, and today she joined a group of schoolchildren to boogie dance.
The Duchess of Sussex, 42, spoke to students at Wuse Lightway Academy in Abuja about her two-year-old daughter developing a natural rhythm as she and Prince Harry joined them for Jump Up, Turn Around.
The BBC reported that while chatting with students, Meghan said Lilibet’s favorite class is dancing, adding: “Maybe it’s all the jumping.”
She also spoke to the students about an upcoming robot car exhibition, at which point the Duchess suggested she wanted to see them again.
The sweet moments came as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex began their unofficial three-day ‘royal’ tour of Nigeria today.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex joined in with a dance to Jump Up, Turn Around as they joined children at Wuse Lightway Academy.
As the Duke and Duchess danced with the children, Meghan performed a perfect turn while Harry’s dance moves seemed a little less refined and he made an uncomfortable face as he seemed to have difficulty keeping up.
At one point, Meghan burst out laughing and put a supportive hand on Harry’s arm, while the children jumped for joy and sang.
Elsewhere in the school visit, Meghan and Harry addressed students in a speech.
The couple spoke about mental health at school supported by their Archewell Foundation, with Meghan encouraging them to “be honest with each other.”
While chatting with students, Meghan revealed that her daughter Lilibet’s favorite class is dance and joked that it was probably because of “all the jumping.”
Harry also said: ‘If you see that your friend in your class is not smiling, what are you going to do? Are you going to control them? Are you going to ask them if they are okay? Because it’s okay to not be okay.’ Handing the microphone to Meghan, he added: “Do you see why I married him? He’s very smart. And very inspiring because he tells the truth.”
Meghan, wearing a long Heidi Merrick ‘Windsor’ dress worth £450, told the pupils: ‘As I look around this room, I see myself in all of you too. So it is a complete honor to have our first visit to Nigeria and to be here with all of you.
‘We believe in all of you, we believe in your future, we believe in your ability to continue to tell your stories and be honest with each other. There is no need to suffer in silence. Just make sure you take care of yourselves.’
Meghan also praised James Holt, the chief executive of the Archewell Foundation who accompanied them on the trip, for his work, adding that his “birthday is today.”
Meghan takes a selfie with students as Harry looks on at Wuse Lightway Academy today
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle arrive at the Wuse Lightway Academy in Abuja this morning
Harry and Meghan applaud as they meet children at Wuse Lightway Academy in Abuja today
Harry and Meghan take part in games at the Wuse Lightway Academy in Abuja today
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are welcomed at the Wuse Lightway Academy in Abuja today
Meghan Markle waves as she and Harry visit the Wuse Lightway Academy in Abuja today
Harry gave his own speech on mental health, evoking memories of his suffering after the death of his mother, Princess Diana, when he referred to people who “have lost a loved one in their family and don’t know where to turn or “Who to talk to.” ‘.
The duke, who was 12 and his brother William 15 when Diana died in Paris in 1997, added that there was “no shame in being able to acknowledge that today is a bad day.”
He also told the kids: ‘You can have it, she (Meghan) can have it, I can have it.’ They can have it. Chances are, each and every one of us will have it on any given day.
The duke asked a boy his age and when he was told they were five, he replied: ‘Are you five? Our son Archie is five years old. Meghan added: “That’s right, he turned five.” She also said Lilibet loved to dance, adding, “Maybe it’s all the jumping.”
The Sussexes were greeted by a dance troupe and a crowd of excited students and teachers. Student Nnenna Okorie said of Meghan: “She is the most beautiful human being who has ever lived.” I admire her a lot and then Harry. I love how she supports me so much.”
The couple arrived together in Abuja shortly before 5am, following a secret meeting in Heathrow’s Windsor VIP suite yesterday after the Duchess arrived from Los Angeles.
They boarded the overnight British Airways flight to Abuja, which was slightly delayed after the scheduled pilot fell ill and a replacement had to be found.
The Sussexes, who were visiting Nigeria together for the first time, were seated in the first class section of the Boeing 777 and were separated from other passengers by a curtain.
Meghan revealed on her Spotify Archetypes podcast in 2022 that she discovered she is of Nigerian ancestry and describes herself as “43 percent Nigerian.”
And yesterday, Harry said it was “great” to be back in the UK this week to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games. The duke had been in London since Tuesday to attend events related to the competition, including a thanksgiving service.
