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!

That must be a good few years ago? She stopped doing overseas visits a decade or more ago? I think there is (rightfully) a lot more scrutiny these days.

Charles made a virtual visit to Nigeria in 2021. In 2018 Charles made a face to face visit to Nigeria.

Twice.

https://culturecustodian.com/when-queen-elizabeth-ii-visited-nigeria/#:~:text=Queen%20Elizabeth's%20visit%20to%20Nigeria,Mountbatten%2C%20the%20Duke%20of%20Edinburgh.

Presumably the government's decision? Or was it a personal visit?

Charles has visited Nigeria 4 times. 1990, 1999, 2006 and 2018. He was not on holiday, he visited as the Prince of Wales.

I’m not sure it’s a good idea for people attached to a head of state to do this. They have no support, no sanction, no grasp of the political landscape or ways they could trip up and cause problems. And it really does not seem safe.

There is a massive difference between diplomacy in an official role and self promotion by someone who is a private citizen like Harry.

You think it is not safe for Harry, but safe for Charles?

Right, with a team of people managing the visits, determining if they were safe, explaining important intricacies.

Harry is not the Prince of Wales. Does not have the same standing now his father had then, and won’t have the support of the palace or the United Kingdom on this trip. It’s a very strange choice.

Yes, absolutely. Who is going to protect Harry?

I think there is a big difference between someone who is the constitutional head of state (or representing them) visiting a country at the legitimate government's request, and a private individual choosing to visit that country.

So only staff employed by the Royal Family are skilled enough to plan a visit to Nigeria and ensure someone is safe?
And the objections about Harry visiting Nigeria because it is a "corrupt country" have disappeared as people on this thread did not realise Senior Royal Family members have visited Nigeria many times.

@OneHeartySnail Harry is not visiting as a private individual. That would make his visit a holiday. Harry has been invited by the Nigerian government in Harry's role as Founder and Patron of Invictus. It is a work trip.

Of course people knew the Queen and others had visited Nigeria and other corrupt regimes . What are you talking about? 😂

It's not the staff who are protecting the monarchs! Why does Harry want British security or is it that he is too cheap to provide his own? He's made a great fuss about it.

I don't think we can read QE2's hosting of Trump as an endorsement of Trump - Teresa May as Prime Minister invited him, and QE2 fulfilled her constitutional role to host him.

Quite rightly we have no idea of her personal feelings.

As Harry has no official role, he can decline invitations if he chooses. So if he accepts an invitation it is down to his personal choices with regards to ethics (and security etc)

Aye sure you knew.

Nigeria is touting for business.

The comparisons to the Queen visiting any country and Harry doing so in any capacity now that he’s no longer a working royal are laughable.

Who do you think Harry has hired that would be skilled enough in diplomatic relations to manage a trip like this? What security advisors does he have the experience to manage a trip to Nigeria but not a short drive through Manhattan?

Invictus is a charity.

There are thousands of registered charities in the UK. Blimey, I am a trustee of a charity - that doesn't make me obliged to undertake a dodgy overseas trip (or UK trip)

This is not an official visit required by a constitutional government of a head of state (or their representative)

Yes @AliceOlive but then Harry is up for anything which makes him feel important. He doesn't care where it comes from as long as he gets that sausage.

Harry is visiting in his role as founder and patron of Invictus at the invitation of the Nigerian government. It is normal for international charities to visit many countries.

I think if he actually does this he’s going to quickly feel a level of discomfort he’s not ever truly experienced before. He never went anywhere like it without the full force of the United Kingdom behind him.

I don’t think he should and that’s not me being unkind or judgmental, it just seems like a very bad idea.

He is entirely free to refuse the invitation, if he has any ethical concerns. Unlike QE2 or Charles, with a constitutional role where the government decides.

So presumably has no ethical concerns