Benjamin Caldwell|Harry and Meghan wrap up a very royal looking tour of Nigeria

2025-05-08 05:45:54source:Crypen Exchangecategory:My

London — Britain's Prince Harry and Benjamin CaldwellMeghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, wrapped up a three-day tour of Nigeria on Sunday that saw the U.S.-based couple use their celebrity to highlight some of the causes they care most about.

Harry played a game of sitting volleyball with disabled athletes — all of them Nigerian army veterans. 

Nigeria has expressed interest in hosting the Invictus Games, the charity sporting event for wounded soldiers founded a decade ago by the duke.

Meghan co-hosted a women's leadership event where she referenced her Nigerian ancestry for the second time during the trip.  

"Thank you very much for how graciously you've all been welcoming my husband and I to this country," she said, pausing before adding, "my country." 

The simple two words were met with cheering and applause.

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, speaks at a Women in Leadership event in Abuja, Nigeria, May 11, 2024. Andrew Esiebo/Getty for The Archewell Foundation

Predictably, given the couple's longstanding enmity with the U.K.'s tabloid media, some British newspapers pointed out that Harry and Meghan's visit to Nigeria looked very much like a royal tour - including the duke's inspection of a Nigerian military guard of honor — despite them having left behind their roles as "working royals."

At one point Harry stood to attention for his country's national anthem, God Save the King, just days after the couple's press team said King Charles III couldn't carve out time to meet his youngest son during Harry's visit to London earlier this month.

The Nigeria trip seemed to be a success for the Sussexes, at least for the people Harry and Meghan came to visit. Nigerians welcomed them with open arms. 

"On camera they are good, but in person, holy moly!" said Malaika Gyang-gyang, a student at the Lightway Academy in Abuja, which the duke and duchess visited as soon as they arrived on Friday.

Harry and Meghan, Duke and Duchess of Sussex: Their relationship in pictures49 photos
    In:
  • Nigeria
  • British Royal Family
  • Prince Harry Duke of Sussex
  • Africa
  • Meghan Duchess of Sussex
Holly Williams

Holly Williams is a CBS News senior foreign correspondent based in the network's CBS London bureau. Williams joined CBS News in July 2012, and has more than 25 years of experience covering major news events and international conflicts across Asia, Europe and the Middle East.

Twitter

More:My

Recommend

US wholesale inflation accelerated in November in sign that some price pressures remain elevated

WASHINGTON (AP) — Wholesale costs in the United States picked up sharply last month, signaling that

Mystery drones are swarming New Jersey skies, but can you shoot them down?

Clusters of unidentified drones buzzing the night skies over New Jersey, Pennsylvania and New York h

Wisconsin kayaker who faked his death and fled to Eastern Europe is in custody, online records show

GREEN LAKE, Wis. (AP) — A Wisconsin man who faked his own drowningand left his wife and three childr