Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are making plans to journey to Nigeria next month. The Prince is scheduled to return to London on May 8th for the Invictus Games service at St. Paul’s Cathedral.
While it remains uncertain whether Meghan and the couple’s children, four-year-old Prince Archie and two-year-old Princess Lilibet, will accompany him, the Duchess intends to join her husband for the trip to the African country.
They have been invited by the Chief of Defence Staff, Nigeria’s highest-ranking military official, whom Harry previously met at the Invictus Games in Dusseldorf last September.
The Duke and Duchess are expected to visit various organizations during their upcoming trip to Nigeria, with specific details to be announced later. This surprise visit was arranged after the Chief of Staff extended an invitation to the couple, generating considerable excitement about the upcoming visit.
During last year’s Invictus Games, Meghan developed close ties with the Nigerian team, who even bestowed upon her a Nigerian name. Nigeria holds a special significance for Meghan, as she has Nigerian heritage, as revealed on her former podcast, Archetypes.
Talking with celebrity interviewer Ziwe, the royal said: “I just had my genealogy done a couple years ago… [and I’m] Forty-three percent Nigerian.”
Meghan went on: “I’m going to start to dig deeper into all this because anybody that I’ve told, especially Nigerian women, are like ‘What!'”
An official statement also revealed that Harry will give a reading while actor Damian, best known for starring in Homeland and Band of Brothers, will recite the poem ‘Invictus’.
Representatives from various participating nations of the Invictus Games, along with members of the wounded, injured, and sick service personnel and veteran community, will also be in attendance.
Additionally, individuals from the community, supporters, and beneficiaries have been chosen to deliver readings as part of the service, under the guidance of The Very Reverend Andrew Tremlett, Dean of St. Paul’s.