Meghan Markle Thanks Nigeria for 'Welcoming Me Home' After Discovering Her Heritage
The Duchess of Sussex made the sweet comment about the African country while signing a visitor's book at Defence Headquarters in Abuja on May 10
AP Photo/Sunday Alamba
Meghan Markle in Abuja, Nigeria, Friday, May 10, 2024.Meghan Markle is sharing her love for Nigeria.
During the first day of her and Prince Harry’s inaugural visit to Nigeria, the Duchess of Sussex wrote a sweet note about the African country after previously revealing her heritage.
“With gratitude for the support of the Invictus community. And for welcoming me home,” Meghan, 42, wrote while signing a visitor’s book at the Defence Headquarters in the heart of Abuja on Friday, May 10.
Harry, 39, couldn’t help but remark at his wife’s calligraphy, noting, “She has beautiful handwriting.” (Meghan previously worked as a calligrapher!)
The prince also shared his own message in the book and wrote, “Thank you for welcoming us to your beautiful country, together we will heal our troops.”
The couple were formally welcomed to Nigeria at the headquarters by Chief of Defense Staff Christopher Musa — the highest-ranking military official — who invited them to visit Nigeria.
Making an outfit change from their first outing, Meghan arrived wearing a white pantsuit from Altuzarra, while Harry dressed in a teal green suit – the colors of the Nigerian flag.
During their meeting, Harry stressed to their hosts that the reason for their visit was the links forged through the Invictus Games and the rehabilitation through sport for the injured and wounded.
KOLA SULAIMON/AFP via Getty
Meghan Markle in NigeriaGoing on to praise Nigeria for adopting sport as part of rehabilitation, Harry continued, “You’re not the first country to notice that it not only transforms lives but saves lives. I'm eternally grateful to all of you for joining the Invictus movement for Nigeria and for every single soul who’s been injured protecting the freedoms of Nigeria.”
AFOLABI SOTUNDE/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
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He also noted that Nigeria was a welcome addition to the Invictus community. “The team that turned up in Düsseldorf was small but mighty,” Harry said. “They danced their way onto the stage. They won medals and danced off the stage. They were the life and soul of those games. Our goal now is to help you grow that team and provide as much opportunity and resource here in Nigeria and for the games that are coming at the beginning of next year.”
“And I know there’s been an expression of interest for Nigeria to perhaps host the games in 2029,” he added.
Meghan and Harry left the headquarters hand-in-hand and were greeted outside by the wives of several armed forces members.
Adenike Keennam, whose husband is in the airforce, told PEOPLE, “I told her [Meghan] ‘welcome home.’ She gave me a big smile.”
“I think it’s significant they’re here in many ways,” added Keennam. “With people like them who you see on TV or in the papers, to see them in person goes a long way. They are people of peace.”
AP Photo/Sunday Alamba
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry at the Nigerian Defence Headquarters in AbujaMeghan revealed her Nigerian heritage during an episode of her Archetypes in October 2022. Speaking to American-Nigerian actress Ziwe, Meghan explained that she had discovered she was “43% Nigerian” after having her genealogy done "a couple of years ago.”
Ziwe, 32, commented that the news was "huge for our community," while Meghan added that she was going to "dig deeper into all of this.”
In a speech at a school in Abuja earlier in the day, Meghan told the students of Lightway Academy “as I look around this room, I see myself in all of you as well."
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“You know, every single one of you has a story. We all have our story,” she said in part. “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.”
Following their school visit and meeting at the Defence Headquarters, Meghan and Harry are due to visit a military hospital in Kaduna to meet injured armed forces members.
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