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.

Ha! @Mymilkshakebringsallthepapstomycar we seem to be on the same wavelength today 😆

Well, you said 'Nigeria' wanted to do this or that, which suggested you considered this to be an official visit, which it is not.

And I don't know about the specifics, but it's obvious to me that they went there with the intention of playing pretend royal. And since they have now Found Freedom, surely they could have planned this 'tour' in the way they wanted, and not be constrained by pesky royal connotations, if that is not in fact what they wanted?

I wonder when the penny will drop that they're now pawns in a game of dodgy international one upmanship.

It's such a pity things went so wrong. They should have stayed here, worked in term time, Meghan could have kept in with acting (as the Queen suggested), and had school holidays in the states to keep the link with her home.

Thanks for the clarification. So that's several million dollars worth of sanitary products and other essential resources that could have been supplied to the vulnerable populace instead of being spent on this private shindig of elites.

Did you have marmalade for breakfast too? 😉😂

The news agency’s and newspapers used the term an ‘an official spokesperson of Prince Harry’. ‘ This means the legitimacy of the statement can be confirmed. When I read an ‘official spokesperson for King Charles’ in news media, I know that can be validated too.

Unnamed ‘Source’, ‘friend’ and ‘Kings Men’ (the last phrase sounds pretty funny - imagining they have swords inside their walking sticks ) can’t be validated. Honestly does anyone really think BP is going to confirm what was written in that article? I have no time for ‘a friend of’ anyone.

I think you’ve confused me with someone else. I don’t like the practice of leaking of stories and I don’t like made up reports - from a news media. I want more from the news media. An ‘unnamed source’ used to mean something. It used to mean the journalist had a source that could not be identified but the matter was so important that it had to be printed, and ‘source’ was used sparingly. Now it’s just a way of pushing unsubstantiated gossip and, sometimes, certain agendas.

This article is either made up or it’s deliberate leaking. The palace does leak. This has been confirmed by a number of British journalists over the years. But on here there have been repeated denials/rejections of palaces leaking, which, when pointed out, results in Whataboutery.

Harry very likely leaks stories too (but I do doubt Harry would leak anything to the UK media groups that he has already sued successfully or is in the process of suing - because they’d use it against him in a story). As I said I don’t like leaking from anyone. ( BTW, i like Harry well enough but know he’s far from perfect. I feel the same way about William.

I wasn’t making this about ‘the Palace leaks and Harry does not.’ as you seem to have assumed. I’m just sick of this standard of journalism passing for news in articles like the one we are discussing. And being presented in here as meaning something.

I thought the Sussexes had backtracked on not engaging with UK tabloids as they (the tabloids) were added to the IG WhatsApp media group

The news agency’s and newspapers used the term an ‘an official spokesperson of Prince Harry’. ‘ This means the legitimacy of the statement can be confirmed. When I read an ‘official spokesperson for King Charles’ in news media, I know that can be validated too.

Unnamed ‘Source’, ‘friend’ and ‘Kings Men’ (the last phrase sounds pretty funny - imagining they have swords inside their walking sticks ) can’t be validated. Honestly does anyone really think BP is going to confirm what was written in that article? I have no time for ‘a friend of’ anyone.

I think this is a spurious point.

Harry has no official position or even a job. Where can I 'validate' the 'legitimacy' of this 'statement' by an unnamed 'spokesperson'?

The point, for me at least, is that it was Harry who started a public discussion about matters which should be private. When do the royals comment on private visits, or the lack thereof, from family members? This is why I can understand why none of them want to spend time with Harry. Their private business will be all over the next Netflix 'documentary' or book by Scobie. Although he appears to be out of favour at the moment, so maybe interviews are under way for a new hagiographer.

When all's said and done, isn't the whole Nigeria trip - like everything that H & M do, one big virtue-signalling exercise? This is inescapable to me.

By v.s. I mean: preaching to other people at no cost to yourself in terms of life-style changes or sacrifices of personal comfort, consumption etc.

Fans can rave over Meghan's clothes (or not, as the case my be) but really, what's it all about? It's about promoting M & H, raising their profile, massaging their egos and maybe winding up the RF back in the UK.

If anyone knows of any real benefit to the Nigerian people (not just the Nigerian elite) please say, and that's a genuine question.

Not today but I’ll be sure to put a sandwich in my handbag 🤪😂

I am no H&M supporter but I haven't seen this anywhere. To me, "reported" implies that it was said by a "reporter" i.e., a journalist. Is that the case? If so who?

I think H&M wanted it to be grand, a celebrity tour, to showcase new frocks and word salad about belonging and not being OK etc etc, but I'm not laying the quasi-royal stuff at their door.

But it's entirely foreseeable that when they set out on a highly publicised visit with no pre-planned itinerary and no expert advice or diplomatic backup, they could find themselves in situations they didn't expect, that have the potential to be embarrassing for them, the King, HMG, the government of the destination country.

They lay themselves open to being manipulated by all kinds of murky factions and individuals, and they wouldn't have a clue what they were getting into. And that is at their door.

Where will they be invited next, I wonder.

I'm sceptical about this story. The figure quoted is too neat, to start with.

Who would pay them and how would anyone know? They probably had all their expenses covered, but I doubt someone transferred a large sum into their offshore bank account.

So Russia and China want a piece of Nigeria. What exactly are they after?

I'm no expert in Nigeria's geology, but in these instances it often comes down to mineral wealth

And as suggested before, if they think the Brits raped their country, try having those two for "partners", never mind expecting that they'll later feel guilty over whatever's been done

Yes, I agree with this 👏

Her outfit at the polo gave me very ‘low-grade dictator’s wife’ vibes. Dress for the job you want? 🤣

It gave me Peacocks sale rail vibes.

Yes, that too!

If they are trying to demonstrate their competence vs W&C they are failing miserably!
Like going on the apprentice and expecting to get a decent job after displaying your total ineptitude to the world!

Who would pay them and how would anyone know? They probably had all their expenses covered, but I doubt someone transferred a large sum into their offshore bank account.

I suspect someone social media muddle up security payments and money in bank accounts some where.

https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/us-celebrity-news/breaking-harry-meghan-africa-scandal-32708244
Just cites reports as source for security costs but then below Mail suggest they are paying for some of it - the 4 man team.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13406105/Its-Harry-Meghan-Ex-Royal-protection-officer-questions-presidential-security-arrangements-Sussex-Nigeria-rolls-red-carpet-Sussexes-Harry-visiting-army-bases-Meghan-cosying-fans-selfies.html

I have to say if I was invited somewhere I'd expect host to contribute or cover security costs - and I suspect it like some of the royal event costs the wages of soldiers would still be paid by military but they'd just be doing something else during the time - so while it's a cost it's sort of covered one it's not new money.

Great post, @IcedPurple .

It gave me Peacocks sale rail vibes.

Almost everything she wore was unsuitable for the occasion, or just plain unsuitable, and hardly any of it looked like high fashion.

PMSL at this in The Daily Mail:

"There was excitement at the promise of more sporting endeavour later. Harry and Meghan were to attend a charity polo match. Would Harry hit the field? But he was merely a spectator. Probably the best call, given the sport's elitist image and the fact that 87 million Nigerians live below the poverty line."

Oops quoted wrong post.

Didn’t Harry make some comment about William being bald? He looks to me he needs to accept he’s going the same way and shave it off, I saw some very unflattering angles of his head.