Harry & Meghan are reunited in Nigeria for 3-day ‘faux-royal tour’ where duchess will ‘explore her lineage’
PRINCE Harry has touched down in Nigeria for his “faux-royal tour” with Meghan Markle after a whistle-stop trip to the UK.
The Duke of Sussex, 39, boarded a flight out of Britain last night after jetting into Britain on Tuesday.
Harry and Meghan will take part in “cultural activities” after they were invited by the West African country’s chief of defence staff.
The pair were said to have reunited at Heathrow after the duke was snapped there last night.
He was seen heading into the Windsor Suite in the early evening and was said to have met up with his wife inside.
The couple were said to have then boarded a British Airways flight to Abuja – and were seen walking onto the tarmac.
They’re set to have their first engagement around 12noon today local time.
Brigadier General Tukur Gusau told MailOnline: “They will be tired after their journey, so they will rest and then the first engagement is at midday at the Defence Headquarters.
“After that they will travel to Kaduna to meet wounded soldiers at a military hospital there before returning to Abuja for other engagements.”
Just hours earlier his dad King Charles had been snapped beaming in Surrey, while Prince William visited a site where houses are being built for the homeless.
Harry didn’t meet with his “busy” dad on the fleeting trip to the UK, but said he “hopes to see his him soon”.
The Monarch was spotted on Tuesday leaving Windsor Castle around 11am, just hours before Harry touched down.
His son was then spotted in London, before he headed to an Invictus event.
Harry released a statement around 2pm saying he would not be seeing Charles, due to his “father’s diary of commitments and various other priorities”.
Charles then snubbed his son for a second time – announcing William would take charge of Harry’s former helicopter regiment next week.
On Wednesday afternoon King Charles hosted the palace’s first garden party of the year as one of his first events back in the public eye.
Around the same time, Harry was backed by Princess Diana’s siblings at his Invictus bash.
The King was just two miles away.
The party wrapped up at 6pm – just as Harry finished a service at St Paul’s Cathedral.
Charles, donned a grey suit and light blue waistcoat, beamed as he appeared alongside other Royal Family members.
The monarch removed his top hat for the National Anthem performance and could be seen smiling to the crowds.
His Majesty joined by the Queen, the Princess Royal, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester.
One touching video show Charles greeting and shaking the hands of well-wishers.
Charles stops to speak to tens of people as Camilla tries to Usher her husband along.
Meanwhile, the Duke of Sussex was in the same city – hugging his late mum’s brother and sister Earl Spencer, 59, and Lady Jane Fellowes, 67, outside St Paul’s Cathedral ahead of a service.
Three cousins — George McCorquodale, 39, Louis Spencer, 30, and Lara Spencer, 18 — sat in a row behind Harry.
Harry's 'snubbed' statement in full:
A spokesperson for Prince Harry said: “In response to the many inquiries and continued speculation on whether or not The Duke will meet with his father while in the UK this week.
“It unfortunately will not be possible due to His Majesty’s full programme.
“The Duke of course is understanding of his father’s diary of commitments and various other priorities and hopes to see him soon.”
A decade ago Charles, Camilla and Prince William had joined Harry at the first Invictus Games in London.
On Wednesday, Earl Spencer and Baroness Fellowes supported him at the hour-long service followed by a drinks reception in the St Paul’s crypt.
Harry arrived at 5pm and greeted his aunt and uncle before taking his seat.
He gave a reading, as did actor Damian Lewis. Ingrid Seward, editor of Majesty magazine and friend of Diana, said the Spencers’ presence was significant.
She said: “They are very supportive of Harry and always have been.
“It sends a clear signal to the Royal Family and to Harry that Diana’s family are there for him.
“At his address at Diana’s funeral, Charles Spencer said he would look out for William and Harry in her place.
“He said ‘We your blood family will do all we can to continue the imaginative way in which you were steering theses two exceptional young men so that their souls are not simply immersed by duty and tradition but can sing openly as you had planned’.
Where was Wills?
PRINCE William was just 25 miles away from Harry as he dished out gongs on Wednesday.
England goalkeeping heroes Mary Earps and Peter Shilton both picked up honours.
Shilton, 74, discussed England men’s Euros prospects with Wills as he was made a CBE.
He told reporters in Windsor: “I think we can win it. You just need a bit of luck . . . a bad referee decision.”
Earps, 31, was made an MBE for her services to football.
She said it will be the highlight of her season when she plays for Man United against Tottenham in the Women’s FA Cup final on Sunday.
“Charles Spencer wanted the Spencer family to be prominent above all others, but the boys were sucked up by the Royal Family.
“Now that Harry has left the Royal Family, the Spencers have laid claim to him again.”
And now Harry is jetting off on a ‘faux royal tour’.
He and Meghan, who is of Nigerian descent, will meet service members and their families, and participate in traditional cultural activities, according to local media.
It will be the pair’s first trip to Nigeria as a couple.
Harry has had a long relationship with Africa, even taking his now-wife Meghan to Botswana for a camping trip as one of their early dates.
And in 2019 the couple embarked on a tour of southern Africa.
The Duchess of Sussex flew with baby Archie to Johannesburg where they were later joined by Harry, after he visited Malawi.
During the time apart Meghan told journalist she was struggling to cope with them being apart.
The Duke has also established a charity to help African orphans, Sentebale, with Prince Seeiso from Lesotho.
