Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s visit to Nigeria has been likened to a royal tour, even though they are no longer working royals.
Prince Harry has received backlash after pictures and videos emerged of him inspecting troops in Nigeria, with some claiming he has “no right” to do so because he is not a working member of the Royal Family.
Harry and his wife Meghan Markle are currently in Nigeria on a mini tour, another throwback to their royal life in spite of their decision to step down four years ago.
One royal fan wrote on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, underneath a video of the event: “He is NOT an acting royal representing his father. Everyone knew this would happen!”
Another added: “I’m angered by this too. Harry has no authority to ‘inspect’ troops. His late grandmother stripped him of all his military titles. Someone said they are calling him, ‘Your Highness’. Harry’s ‘HRH’ was removed too. The King needs to shut this down.”
A third commented: “This is so weird. So any old Tom, Dick or Harry can inspect the troops? Guess the Nigerian military didn’t get the memo that Harry is not only not the King he’s barely a prince at this point.”
Prince Harry has been criticised for inspecting troops in Nigeria (Image: Getty)
The couple have a packed schedule for their three-day visit, which kicked off on Friday after they landed in Abuja first thing in the morning after an overnight flight from Heathrow.
Later in the day they travelled to Wuse Lightway Academy in the Nigerian capital, where they were greeted by the children ahead of them co-hosting a mental health summit along with the GEANCO Foundation.
Meghan gushed over her husband following his speech to staff and students and urged them to “look after yourselves” when it comes to preserving their mental health.
Prince Harry is no longer an official royal (Image: Getty)
As he finished, Meghan told the assembled audience: “You see why I’m married to him? It’s so inspiring because he speaks the truth.”
She then gave her own address, telling them: “Every single one of you has a story. We all have our story. And there’s no shame in any single one of your stories.
“Even on the hardest days or darkest days, everything is a pillar of your strength by each of you being there. Your teachers see that in you. And we see that in you.”
Meghan praised her family and the students in her address (Image: Getty)
The Duchess of Sussex also shared a sweet anecdote about their daughter Princess Lilibet, who is set to celebrate her third birthday next month.
She said: “A few weeks ago, she looked at me and saw her reflection in my eyes. She said: ‘Mama, I see me in you.’ Now, she was talking literally, but I held onto those words in a different way. I thought, yes, I do see me in you, and you see me in you. But as I look around this room, I see myself in all of you as well.”
Harry and Meghan’s trip will also take them to Lagos and Kaduna before they head back to California on Monday to be reunited with both of their children.