Social media users have joked that Prince Harry looks like African royalty after he was pictured accepting a photo from Princess Diana.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex took Nigeria by storm today, posing for selfies, playing with children and being mobbed by their fans as they kicked off their three-day tour in royal style.
The pair received a military welcome in the afternoon as onlookers flocked to try to catch a glimpse of the radiant couple, after a morning visit in which Meghan told the schoolgirls: “I see myself in all of you.”
After visiting children at a school and meeting officials at the Nigerian Defense Headquarters, the couple headed to Kaduna State, where they were received by Governor Uba Sani and other government officials.
Governor Sani presented Harry with the framed portrait of Diana hugging him as a child along with another portrait of him and Meghan on their wedding day and other gifts before decorating him in traditional Hausa attire.
Governor Uba Sani decorated Prince Harry in traditional Hausa dress during his visit to Nigeria.
Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State presents Prince Harry with a portrait of Diana hugging him as a child.
Social media users were quick to share their reaction to Prince Harry in traditional Hausa attire.
Harry and Meghan smile 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
Prince Harry’s tour of Nigeria with his wife Meghan Markle comes 34 years after Princess Diana visited the country with Prince Charles. Above: The couple visits the children at the Lights Academy in Abuja today.
In response to Harry’s photo on social media, one person joked: “They’ve adopted Henry lol,” while another said: “Prince Harry is now a Nigerian prince.”
However, many pointed out that the image was just a traditional ceremony with Harry dressed in a Nigerian outfit called Agbada.
One person wrote: ‘Agbada, it is an honor for them to offer and dress a person with it! Very few are so accepted.’
Another added: ‘It’s called Agbada, very elegant, I love it!’, while a third commented: ‘Prince Harry in agbada [laughing face emoji]’.
Prince Harry’s tour of Nigeria with his wife Meghan Markle comes 34 years after Princess Diana visited the country with Prince Charles.
Back then, the Princess of Wales showed the kindness she became famous for when she held the hand of a leprosy patient while her husband initially awkwardly stood by.
Today, after his and Meghan’s arrival in Abuja, Harry evoked memories of his suffering after his mother’s death when he spoke to a group of schoolchildren.
The Duke of Sussex, who was 12 when Diana died in a car crash in Paris in 1997, told pupils there was “no shame in being able to admit that today is a bad day”.
The duke will see his and Meghan’s visit as another effort to continue his mother’s “unfinished” work.
He said in 2022 that he felt “obliged” to live out his legacy “as much as possible.”
Harry and Meghan on their tour of the Nigerian capital Abuja on Friday
Personal protection officers can be seen among Harry and Meghan’s entourage
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex meet the Chief of Defense at Defense Headquarters in Abuja
Security has been beefed up ahead of Harry and Meghan’s visit to Nigeria.
The Sussexes were greeted by a dance troupe and a crowd of excited students and teachers.
Prince Harry’s tour of Nigeria with his wife Meghan Markle comes 34 years after Princess Diana visited the country with Prince Charles.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex conquered Nigeria today
There was another comical moment today on their tour of Nigeria when Meghan took a photo with students at Wuse Lightway Academy and Harry raised his arms and flashed a cheeky smile behind her.
The couple spoke about mental health at school supported by their Archewell Foundation, with Meghan encouraging them to “be honest with each other.”
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.”
They visited the school about five hours after their arrival in Abuja, before heading to the Nigerian Defense Headquarters for their next engagement starting at noon.
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.”
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.”
At Defense Headquarters, the couple spent an hour inside before emerging to applause and shaking hands with supporters amid chaotic scenes.
On Friday, the couple arrived at the Defense Headquarters in Abuja, where they visited the Chief of Defense Staff, General Christopher Musa.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle arrive at the Wuse Lightway Academy in Abuja on Friday morning.
Prince Harry speaks to those sitting with him at the Wuse Lightway Academy in Abuja on Friday.
At Defense Headquarters, the couple spent an hour inside before emerging to applause and shaking hands with supporters amid chaotic scenes. An uncomfortable-looking Harry quickly ushered Meghan into her car as onlookers nearly overwhelmed them.
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.”
Harry had been in London since Tuesday, attending several events related to the Invictus Games, before traveling to Nigeria.
Yesterday, he chatted and played with grieving military children while making a surprise visit to a charity event.
The 39-year-old man spent the afternoon with 50 children and young people, aged between six and 22, who experienced the death of a military father.
He took part in games, including one in which the Duke used a straw to transport Smarties as quickly as possible, and spoke to youngsters as part of the fun-filled event organized in London by Scotty’s Little Soldiers.
