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!

It will b interesting to see how far afield they travel or whether people are brought to see them. I am watching the Michael Palin series and I cannot believe we travelled aways on those roads ( We went to Ibadan where there is a university designed along western / English lines. )

@NoisySnail Yes, but even if no one’s receiving an actual payment for the trip, the cost will run into tens of thousands for transport, hotels, events, security, etc.

If the Nigerian government/taxpayers is funding the trip, in a country where the poverty rate is around 40% (according to the World Bank), I find that distasteful.

Perhaps Harry and indeed Invictus need to, in the US parlance, divest from certain multi-national corporations and certain militaries?

'Harry: divest!' has a certain ring to it.

The Nigerian government funded Queen Elizabeth and as he was then Prince Charles visits. Charles has visited four times.

You mean the UK’s Foreign Office has requested QEII and Charles to visit Nigeria several times in the past, to further its own international relations strategy, and agreed with the Nigerian governments the terms on which those visits would be conducted. There’s a difference.

You can't see the difference between a Commonwealth country welcoming the Head of the Commonwealth, or her representative, and.....Harry and Meghan visiting?
Of course they used to have a Commonwealth role. Not now.

Cross post!
Yes, slightly different!

@NoisySnail Presumably they visited for diplomatic reasons, representing their country, as do all heads of state globally.

This particular visit seems more like a jolly, as others have said. Yes, it’s for Invictus, but is it necessary?

I just wish the couple would think things through more and perhaps be more humble? I don’t feel that they can read the room particularly well, hence many celebrities have backed away from them. I do actually want them to succeed in their new life, but I don’t think that they make good choices ( so far).

Oh I think we can guarantee that the usual suspects will be here criticising her wardrobe and everything she does 🤪 oh God if only we didn't have thread poring over every minute things she does 🙄

Oh God if only you wouldn't keep contributing to them! Bit hypocritical, n'est ce pas?!

Then gushing about it, and trying to find dupes!
Yes, they're so predictable.

As Head of State and officially representing the Head of State.

Regarding the Queen's visits in 1956 and 2003, they were to a very different Nigeria on each occasion, as I'm sure you are aware. Indeed her 1956 visit preceded a short period where she was actually the monarch of Nigeria for a few years during its transition to full independence as a sovereign state in its own right. In 2003 the Queen was there open the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Abuja. She met the then President Olusegun Obasanjo who was committed to the restoration of democracy in Nigeria.

As for who paid, I'd be very interested in seeing a (sourced) breakdown.

Chair of(f)

Do people really not see the difference between Harry and Meghan and a Head of State?!

Apparently not...! More to be pitied than laughed at, I suppose🙄

There's (more than a few but...!) something slightly off about the optics of this - doesn't it look like Harry is lending credibility to the Nigerian bid to host Invictus? Shouldn't he be seen to be impartial?

I think that's a good point, @Runnerinthenight , although Harry clearly either doesn't have the wit to work it out, or is happy to go along with it.

Maybe he'd fallen out out with Johnny Mercer.

Charles last visited just before the covid pandemic.

Clearly not. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Well if we have people aay God I don't want a gushy thread then fair play to say the same about these bitchy threads disguised as just criticism, fooling noone it's just plain old bitchiness 🤷‍♀️

I think it is fair to question whether Charles, Harry, and Meghan should carry out visits to Nigeria paid for by the government. But that is not what is happening. Harry and Meghan are condemned, whilst Charles is innocent.

Did you not read the posts?
It's a Commonwealth country. Charles visited as the head of the Commonwealth (or the representative of the head).
Can you genuinely not see the difference?

Charles lll is Head of State and Head of the Commonwealth, of which Nigeria is a member.

Harry is a CHIMPO for a corporate coaching app, and Meghan is an aspiring lifestyle influencer.

If you can't see the difference, I don't think I can help you.

And to repeat, the CHIMPO and influencer have not been invited by the Nigerian government.

Would you question the president of the USA making a visit to Nigeria?

If Nigeria is such a corrupt country, why is it part of the Commonwealth with Charles as Head of State. Surely that gives Nigeria far greater legitimacy than Harry and Meghan visiting Nigeria on behalf of Invictus?