Nigeria?

[MaturingCheeseball]

Can this be true? That Harry and Meghan are off on a “royal” trip to Nigeria? What’s the game now? My head is spinning!

The problem is people erroneously claiming that Invictus came from Harry alone.
Just trying to big him up, I'm guessing.

I think the problem comes when the founder, patron and figure head no longer has another significant income and it begins to look like they are using a charity as a free ride.

This is exactly what Oxfam and Save the Children were criticised for years ago- creating a money making space where the cash ended up on CEO salaries and complimentary hotels. A bit of transparency would be nice.

This was part of the reason they couldn’t remain as working royals. You cannot have you cake and eat it.

If Meghan feels the need to go to Nigeria as part of Invictus, why is she not coming to London for the 10 year anniversary service of thanksgiving🤔

Good question

Maybe because so many people in England have made it clear they do not want Meghan here?

But surely if Invictus is so important to her that she leads the troops around, goes to Canada for a “pre” event, and felt the need to make a speech at the Düsseldorf event, she would want to be at the thanksgiving service? She could arrive and leave discreetly and avoid the public. Unless she just wants to go to the glam events. What will she do if Birmingham end up hosting the games 🤷‍♀️

@smilesy I do not think there is a chance in hell the UK will host the next Invictus games. There are too many people who would move into constantly attacking the UK games online and possibly in person, just because Harry is the founder and patron and Meghan would be attending.
If they are at all sensible they will be saying hell no to that bid.

Because London isn’t safe ! Unlike Nigeria …

@Ratsoffasinkingsauage is on the mark. Harry is blurring the lines between income stream and charitable endeavour. Even a Supporter here says the Nigeria trip is for “work”.

Presumably the Nigerian Military are picking up the (very likely huge) tab, and do we think that generosity will come without a single string?

I am not a supporter.

And it is work even when you are not paid for it. It is not a holiday.

So there are three new Invictus family countries who could host the Games, and make Harry feel safer than if he were in the UK.

1. Nigeria
2. Colombia
3. Israel

Exciting times.

I'm wondering whether she will leave her expensive rings at home, as she did for their visit to South Africa.

Still doesn’t answer why she isn’t coming next week 🤷‍♀️

I don’t think “too many people” would attack the games. They have respect for the veterans. If they were attacking online, what difference does it make where the games
actually take place? Online is global. If they dislike Harry, what difference does it make that the games are in the UK? I don’t think those are considerations for where the games should be held

Meant to link this to my above post

I do not know because I do not know the couple how two parents would go to Nigeria ( which I have been to and it - in my experience ) is not a comfortable place to be and feel unsafe in the UK. I suppose being invited by the Ministry of Defence they will get all sorts of armed people guarding them.

It feels like a faux Royal Visit to me but , but I could very very well be wrong. I am sure Meghan will be feted. But if she can do this I am not sure why they could not take children to see Grandpa and feel safe. But who am I to know.

Do we know Harry's not being paid for it?

I'm assuming nothing either way, but am pretty sure he's not said

Oh do get over yourself! Neither Charles nor Philip ever conducted themselves the way Harry does. Open your eyes!

Well you coulda fooled me....!

News of one of the latest 'Invictus family' members, Colombia.

One for the royal non-royal safety tour, then, after Nigeria.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-68931217

And goodness me, here's ATCO, a key Invictus 'Partner' for Vancouver 2025, doing business with none other than Shell, with its dibs somewhat controversially in Nigeria (link for that to follow).

https://www.shell.ca/en_ca/media/news-and-media-releases/news-releases-2017/shell-canada-signs-fleet-card-agreement-with-atco.html

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/feb/02/nearly-14000-nigerians-take-shell-to-court-over-devastating-impact-of-pollution

I do not think the invictus games are comparable with other royal foundations or trusts, they are a sporting event, that should stand eventually without the founder, similar to the warrior games or the Paralympics, that the event in itself is deemed the centre of interest. They rely on funding, staging and public interest and who should be the most important veterans. The founders are not front and centre, in invictus the veterans should be the focus. The warrior games harry and Jill Biden visited last year, there’s being present and there’s removing the attention from the actual cause. It’s a balancing act that I do not think harry is capable of. It’s not like he is bankrolling the games.

It’s a balancing act that I do not think harry is capable of. It’s not like he is bankrolling the games.

It looks like the multi-nationals are.

I think it's getting to, or has got to, the point where the vacuous pair are distracting from Invictus, not adding to it.