People Magazine is still parceling out their Sussex exclusives, which they’ve made into their cover story this week. People’s royal editor Simon Perry joined the Sussexes for their Nigerian tour, and Prince Harry and Nigerian Princess Meghan gave Perry a wealth of new info and new quotes. Apparently, we really are witnessing a new Sussex Era, an era which will involve more travel and more Sussex tours.
Prince Harry knows the importance of personal connection when it comes to his and wife Meghan Markle’s work. Speaking to PEOPLE on the couple’s three-day trip to Nigeria, the Duke of Sussex says, “It is hugely important for us to meet directly with people, supporting our causes and listening, in order to bring about solutions, support and positive change.”
“There’s only so much one can do from home and over Zoom, so we look forward to traveling more because the work matters. Whether it’s the Archewell Foundation, Invictus or any of our other causes, there will always be reasons to meet the people at the heart of our work,” the duke says.
Harry and Meghan traveled to Nigeria to champion their Archewell Foundation’s mental health initiatives for young people and to promote the Invictus Games, which Nigeria joined for the first time last year. “I’m so happy with the growth of Invictus and to include Nigeria,” the Duke of Sussex says. “You know what Africa means to me over the years. It is a very, very special place, and to be able to include Nigeria now [in Invictus], I’m very happy.”
The Duke of Sussex also recalled his emotional visit to a military hospital in Kaduna, which PEOPLE joined, and the “very low morale” he felt among the approximately 50 men there. Out of those 50, there were two guys who were smiley and happy. And they were the two who were in Germany [at the Düsseldorf Invictus Games] last year,” Harry says, emphasizing the “transformative power” of sport.
“That experience of knowing what life post-injury is like gives people so much hope. And hope, hope, hope is a huge part of this,” he says.
We haven’t talked about the fact that Dave Wiseman was in Nigeria with the Sussexes, and I think a few other Invictus-connected people were there too. It makes sense, given the whole reason for the trip was based on Invictus and Nigeria’s defense department. What’s interesting about that is that Nigeria just gave other countries a roadmap for extending invitations to the Sussexes – to go around the British government/monarchy/establishment (in the case of commonwealth countries) and extend invitations purely through the military and veterans affairs. I could totally see many commonwealth countries doing the same, especially since the whole world saw how well the Sussexes’ Nigerian tour worked out. No “royal protocols,” blanking the British media, giving a tourism bump, etc. So, yeah, I hope other countries do exactly what Nigeria did here.
A Joyous moment with The Obi of Onitsha, His Majesty Igwe Alfred Achebe, The Olu Of Warri, His Majesty Ogiame Atuwatse III and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in Lagos. pic.twitter.com/qzmIcps4Aq
— Misan Harriman (@misanharriman) May 14, 2024
Listening to his story of survival and fortitude, the Duke of Sussex with a Nigerian Military Veteran.
Photographed by me. pic.twitter.com/xDMNAfMPbW
— Misan Harriman (@misanharriman) May 10, 2024
Cover courtesy of People, additional photos courtesy of Misan Harriman.
