Prince Harry and Meghan Markle‘s trip to Nigeria is all about going somewhere they are “celebrated” and not a place where the couple are merely “tolerated”, a royal commentator has claimed. Kinsey Schofield suggested the Sussexes’ forthcoming visit to the African country is for show.
Asked why Harry and Meghan want to visit Nigeria, US-based commentator Ms Schofield said: “It’s the optics. They want their pictures taken. They’ve found people that will play their game so they’re going to chase after it. Go where you’re celebrated not where you’re tolerated.
“They’re going to make them look like these celebrated leaders, cultural leaders… Harry and Meghan need the photos. They need that positive attention because they rarely get any.”
Ms Schofield was debating the forthcoming visit with TalkTV’s Kevin O’Sullivan on her YouTube channel, Kinsey Schofield Unfiltered.
A Nigerian official said on Sunday (April 28) that Harry and Meghan will visit Nigeria this month for talks on the Invictus Games.
Defence spokesman Brigadier General Tukur Gusau didn’t say exactly when the Duke of Sussex will arrive in Africa.
Nigeria was among the countries participating in last year’s games. The country’s military has been fighting a deadly war against Islamic extremists in the country’s northeast since 2009.
The visit to Nigeria will include cultural activities and “consolidate Nigeria’s stronghold at the games and the possibility of hosting the event in later years”, according to Brigadier General Gusau.
Harry is expected to make the trip after a service at St Paul’s Cathedral to mark the 10th anniversary of the games on May 8.
In a separate instalment of Kinsey Schofield Uncensored, Ms Schofield said Harry will be making a solo trip to the UK and neither fellow members of the Royal Family nor Meghan will attend the anniversary event.
The royal expert said Meghan’s absence surprised her, adding: “I felt like she would be concerned with the optics of Prince Harry standing there alone.
“This is probably one of his proudest moments. I would feel concerned with him feeling lonely in that moment and not having somebody there to celebrate that with.”
Harry’s concerns over security mean few details have been made public ahead of the appearance, according to Ms Schofield, who said the Duke will want to see King Charles during his visit to Britain.
Fellow royal expert Katie Nicholl said a meeting between Harry and his estranged brother, Prince William, is unlikely.
She suggested, however, that one of Harry’s cousins might show up for the St Paul’s Cathedral ceremony, adding: “You just think it would be nice if there was some support from his family.