When is a royal tour not a royal tour? When it features the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, that’s when. I give you their triumphal tour of Nigeria. Perhaps the giveaway moment suggestive of a non-royal tour was when Harry stood up for God Save the King and appeared to glower throughout, the one cross-face moment in a tour that was all beams. Still, the memory was fresh of his trip home during which his father couldn’t see his way clear to meeting up.
The perpetual question around the Harry and Meghan phenomenon — viz, what are they for? — seems to be closer to resolution. They are quasi-royals, who perform most of the feelgood elements of a state visit — uplifting speeches, photo-opportunities — without so much expensive security. And the unimpeacable excuse for it is the Invictus Games, a sporting occasion for wounded veterans in which Nigeria is taking part.
But ask not what you can do for Nigeria; ask what Nigeria can do for you. And in the case of Meghan, it has provided her with a useful heritage
There is also the redemptive charity element. Harry and Meghan have for some time embraced the fashionable cause of mental health. The duke is keen to destigmatise mental health issues, which is a cause that his brother is also keen on. Awks.
But ask not what you can do for Nigeria; ask what Nigeria can do for you. And in the case of Meghan, it has provided her with a useful heritage. Turns out that she did one of those DNA tests which established that she is 43 per cent Nigerian. So, which of its 29 ethnic groups might the 43 per cent belong to? Yoruba? Igbo? Wisely, she’s not saying. Now Meghan is calling Nigeria “home”.
But given that this wasn’t a state visit, there was more scope for frank speech than an official royal would have had.
So it’s a pity Harry and Meghan didn’t put a word in on a neuralgic issue for Nigeria — the continuing failure to bring back the Chibok girls, pupils at a Christian school kinapped by the Islamist Boko Haram. Now 10 years on, 100 of the victims are still in captivity. That could have ticked the female empowerment box, a fave of Meghan’s. But it’s a failure for the Nigerian army, so no.
The annoying feature of this non-royal tour for the actual royals is that the couple can still perform just like the real thing with maybe a little more glamour. I mean, Edward and Sophie or Harry’n’Meghan. Which would you choose?
