FAUX ROYALS
Are you sure this isn’t a royal tour? Harry & Meghan are hosted by Nigerian minister, watch dancers and visit school
The couple looked relaxed as they were greeted with banners reading 'Welcome'
HARRY and Meghan began an unofficial three-day trip to Nigeria with a day of activities typical of a royal visit.
The California-based couple stepped down as working members of the Royal Family more than four years ago.
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Harry has said the trip was due to the links forged through his Invictus Games.
But their first day was described as following the “old-school royal tour”.
The pair saw traditional dancers, gave a speech on mental health at a school, signed a visitors’ book, and were hosted by Nigeria’s defence minister.
Images of their visit are strikingly similar to those of the couple’s royal tour to South Africa in 2019 — five months before Megxit — and an official trip to Australia a year earlier.
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Royal author Rob Jobson, who has been on numerous royal tours over 33 years, said: “This smacks of missed opportunity because they could have been serving King and country and GB Plc and the Commonwealth.
"Unfortunately, they decided to go it alone but this tour doesn’t have the same depth and impact as an official royal tour would have.”
Jack Royston, chief royal correspondent at Newsweek, told The Sun's new show Royal Exclusive: “It’s very close to an old-school royal tour.
"The stuff they’re doing, it’s very much like we’ve travelled round seeing the Royal Family do.
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“They have been to a school already so it’s very much that old-school royal playbook.”
The couple looked relaxed as they were greeted with banners reading “Welcome” and “We Are Honoured To Have You” at Lightway Academy, in Abuja.
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They were given strings of wooden beads and serenaded by dancers and singers — with one performing a backflip.
It’s very close to an old-school royal tour
Jack Royston
Inside, kindergarten class children danced and sang songs for their royal visitors.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex also grabbed microphones and gave speeches about the importance of looking after mental health.
As Harry handed over the mic, Meghan said: “You see why I’m married to him?
"It’s so inspiring because he speaks the truth.”
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