Nigeria 2

[OneHeartySnail]

To continue the discussion.

I thought the comparison with the Duke snd Duchess of Windsor (last post on the previous thread) was interesting.

A visit to a dodgy regime, (Nazi Germany) because they would call Wallis HRH and make it a quasi-royal tour.

Of course, at that point Nazi Germany had a dodgy human rights record, but it was before the horrors of the Holocaust.

Let's face it, with the security and human rights issues there is no way the IG could happen in Nigeria. So that is sn excuse.

Fair point, but we are seeing a lot of gushing from both sides. The problem is that William and Catherine are not in a position to undertake a royal tour and might not be for some time. When they do, they won’t want to go in the wake of a Markle visit so it might take some diplomatic manoeuvring to get ahead of them.

Edited to add that relatable is not necessarily a positive characteristic for royalty. Queen Elizabeth was not remotely relatable. She was, however, conscientious, respectful of tradition (home and away), pragmatic and level headed.

No I doubt it. It was part of her personal collection apparently

Commonwealth countries like New Zealand, Canada and Australia would have no interest in spending public money to have Harry and Meghan talk about themselves and spout bromides about mental health ("It's okay not to be okay!"). It's only countries like Nigeria with an appalling record of corruption and human rights abuses that would want to use them to improve their global reputation.

Harry and Meghan both tried to cover up that Meghan wore jewellery given to her by the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia - even after it came out that he had ordered the brutal murder of a journalist. Human rights abuses are not something that give them pause, clearly.

There's been some stage managed fawning, certainly, but little else. They have nothing of substance to say or offer and they do very little to shine a light on whatever causes they are supposed to be supporting. Many of their events seem to end with people wondering what it was about. Meghan particularly seems awkward and incapable of small talk. Where was the dancing, having a go at the sporting events etc? I don't think W and C need to worry.

TBF Harry played in some kind of sit down volleyball

It is inappropriate in my opinion and I hope Harry squirmed when he heard it and thought of the many times it would have been played for his Grandmother. Now it is his father's to use . He's a mealy mouthed little toady. I hope he feels ashamed. Did they play the American anthem? Why not?

@BigWillyLittleTodger yes agree!

Oh that's an untidy bit at the middle. I would be sending that's back .

The BBC posted instagram footage yesterday of three Nigerians on the street who were furious at the money wasted on H & M. I posted it on some thread here on MN.

Also, reddit claims that Nigerians on a Facebook discussion found it odd that her father, father- in-law, sister, and sister-in-law, none of whom she likes, are all gravely ill.

AnnieSF
@BigWillyLittleTodger yes agree!

Nah, that's not Harry. Far too much hair!

Oh yes I see!

Is her father gravely ill?

Not ashamed enough to say anything though.

I posted earlier about the God Save the King. I've just seen footage. It seems Harry did get a bit emotional about it - a bit different though from Meghan's emotion. When the mask slips....

@MacavitytheMystery Thomas Markle had 2 strokes, the latest in 2022. He had a heart attack in 2018 and had heart surgery. He also declared bankruptcy in 2016 and moved to Mexico. I don't personally know him but based on his medical history would not describe him as in strapping health at 79.

Nigerians talking about the visit.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=1HrzTvXxRso

I don’t get the ‘treat them better’ line. Do you mean ‘give them more high profile jobs when they were in the UK’?

How free is the Nigerian press? Just wondering.

abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/nigerian-journalists-arrest-week-triggers-criticism-worsening-press-109953467

If you read more about it while technically there is freedom of the press there are several laws used to suppress information as is mentioned in the article above.

I also read today that only about 16% of Nigerians have access to social media but can't remember the source. I'm not sure about the veracity of this.

So the government controls the narrative.

This video is actually older than that, when she announced she was of Nigerian ancestry.

These are no-nonsense Nigerian women. Obviously not to be trifled with and they are not having it.

Well, they basically make the point that there is a lot more to be 'Nigerian' (or any other heritage) than DNA. Which seems reasonable.

There are over 200 million people in Nigeria. Some will have welcomed them, some would not and I suspect that the vast majority were either fairly indifferent or didn't know they were there.

I hope the charities involved found it worthwhile because that is the important thing.

I read somewhere that it is Harry rather than Meghan who wants to keep them out of the public eye - I think he's just being a protective dad, that's all.

Does anyone know what Dr Ngozi said to Meghan ? I think it was something to do with the 'my country' statement.