They were mercilessly mocked by “South Park” creators for their “Worldwide Privacy Tour,” but Prince Harry and Meghan Markle could be making national tours a part of their repertoire following the success of their recent trip to Nigeria.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are now reportedly planning to tour another country after their high-profile visit to the African nation earlier this month.
Harry and Meghan were invited to Nigeria by Christopher Musa, the country’s highest-ranking military official, and were warmly received by locals and influential politicians alike.
A High-Profile Success
“It was undoubtedly a high-profile success,” royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams told The Mirror on Saturday, adding that there are now whispers that the couple are looking at their next destination. “Ghana has been mentioned,” he revealed, although no plans have been confirmed yet.
However, Fitzwilliams warned that the Sussexes should not overplay their hand by embarking on regular national tours — something typically reserved for working members of the royal family. “Another quasi-royal tour might make the Sussexes objects of mockery,” he asserted.
Walking Away from Royal Duties
Harry and Meghan stepped down as senior members of the royal family in 2020 and currently reside in Montecito, California. Despite no longer working for The Firm, the pair have retained their royal titles. Fitzwilliams pointed out that their tour’s success in Nigeria may have been due to Meghan’s ancestral roots in the country.
“Returning on their terms, but without a purpose, would be meaningless,” he declared.
Royal Fury
The Nigeria tour purportedly enraged King Charles and Prince William. Royal author Tom Quinn told The Mirror that the monarch and his heir were upset that the Sussexes’ stint in Nigeria had all the trappings of a traditional royal tour.
“Everything you might expect from an official royal visit was there — the receptions, the visits to schools and charities, to wounded soldiers and the disabled,” Quinn said. “Charles is said to be angrier than anyone has ever seen him.”
The Royal Dilemma
Meghan and Harry’s speeches and their whole attitude have been designed to give the impression that they are still fully paid-up royals,” said Quinn, adding that William and King Charles “don’t like that one bit.”
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s return to the international stage as quasi-royals has stirred up a storm within the royal family. As they plan their next steps, the question remains: will Harry and Meghan continue their global engagements, or will the backlash from Buckingham Palace force them to reconsider their approach?
Only time will tell how the Sussexes will navigate this delicate balancing act between their newfound independence and their lingering royal ties.
