Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are not representing the UK government on their trip to Nigeria, the British High Commissioner has confirmed.
The Sussexes landed in Abuja this morning for their 72-hour tour after flying together following a secret meeting in London.
The visit is primarily intended to promote the Invictus Games, but many observers have noted its similarity to a traditional royal tour.
However, since the couple are no longer royals, the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Richard Montgomery, is keen to dispel any illusions of them meeting on official business.
“It is fantastic that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are visiting Nigeria, which I understand is at the invitation of Defense Headquarters,” he said in comments reported by the Nigerian News Agency.
‘But they are visiting in a private, unofficial capacity. Therefore, the British High Commission is not involved in the organization or facilitation of your programme. They do not represent the work of Her Majesty’s Government on this visit.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle visit Nigeria on what some have called a ‘mini royal tour’
Since the couple are no longer royals, the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Richard Montgomery, is keen to dispel any illusions that they are meeting on official business.
Harry and Meghan flew overnight to Nigeria with British Airways, and their plane was slightly delayed after the scheduled pilot fell ill and a replacement had to be found.
The couple, visiting Nigeria together for the first time, were seated in the first class section of the Boeing 777 and were kept separated from other passengers by a curtain.
It comes after 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, attending events related to the competition, including a thanksgiving service.
Upon arrival in Nigeria shortly before 5am today, other travelers were held while the couple were escorted and exchanged smiles with cabin crew as they left.
Nigerian officials met them at the airport, Abuja Nnamdi Azikiwe International, and took them through a side door onto the jetty and into a waiting darkened minibus.
Meghan wore black pants and a brown jacket, while Harry walked behind in a black jacket and pants and an open-collared shirt.
Harry and Markle walk down the stairs of a British Airways plane at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, Nigeria, early this morning, shortly after landing.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, pictured in Abuja this morning, were seated in the first class section of the Boeing 777 flight and were separated from other passengers by a curtain.
Attendees carried their luggage and were accompanied by the same security team that had been with Harry during his recent stay in London.
The couple are believed to be staying at the Transcorp Hilton in Abuja, where the presidential suit costs £600 a night.
Set in picturesque landscaped gardens in the heart of the Nigerian capital, the hotel has a restaurant, swimming pool and spa and is popular with expats and diplomats.
It is also close to the Nigerian Defense Headquarters where the couple will have their first engagement at 12 noon with General Christopher Musa, Chief of Defense Staff.
Brigadier Tukur Gusau told MailOnline: “They will be tired after the trip so they will rest and then the first engagement will be at noon at Defense Headquarters.”
“After that, they will travel to Kaduna to meet the wounded soldiers at a military hospital before returning to Abuja for further engagements.”
The Duke of Sussex plays at a Scotty’s Little Soldiers event in London yesterday.
The visit is primarily aimed at promoting the Invictus Games and comes after Harry met the Nigerian team and General Musa at last year’s competition in Dusseldorf, Germany.
It was there that he told the audience that Meghan was “supporting the Nigerian team” after discovering she had heritage from the West African nation.
Harry and Meghan are visiting Nigeria at the invitation of General Christopher Musa.
The couple will visit a school before the duke meets wounded service members at a military hospital.
They will also attend a training session for the charity Nigeria: Unconquered, which supports the Invictus Games, as well as a reception honoring military families.
Prince Harry’s team appears outside the Windsor Suite at Heathrow Airport yesterday.
