Meghan Markle and Prince Harry recently made headlines for a traditional move involving their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. According to a royal commentator, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex traveled to Nigeria earlier in the month, opting to undertake the journey without their two children. While the tour wasn't conducted on behalf of King Charles, the couple was personally invited by Nigeria's chief of defense staff.
The West African nation reportedly expressed interest in hosting a future edition of the Invictus Games, a sporting event founded by Prince Harry in 2014. Some royal commentators speculated that this trip could have served as a way to introduce Archie and Lilibet to public life. However, given Meghan and Harry's consistent efforts to keep their children out of the spotlight since stepping back as senior working royals, this was deemed unlikely.
Gareth Russell, a royal commentator, discussed the decision to leave Archie, 5, and Lilibet, 2, in the US during the Nigeria trip. He noted that while Princess Diana occasionally brought her young children on royal tours, the prevailing wisdom suggests that such public displays can be disruptive to children. The Sussexes' approach aligns more with traditional royal thinking, as evidenced by Queen Elizabeth II's extensive tours without young Prince Charles and Princess Anne.
Russell also remarked that Meghan and Harry's decision wasn't necessarily a strategic move, positive or negative, but rather a traditional one. Nevertheless, many fans would love to see the couple share more about their children, who have been mostly shielded from public view.
Despite occasional appearances in documentaries and family photos, Archie and Lilibet have largely remained out of the public eye. However, Meghan and Harry's recent trip to Nigeria sparked criticism from some quarters. Royal author Angela Levin accused the couple of taking advantage of Prince William and King Charles's unavailability for overseas tours due to personal reasons.
Levin criticized Meghan's fashion choices during the trip, particularly at a school event where she wore a backless dress, which she deemed inappropriate for representing the royal family. She expressed frustration at what she perceived as Meghan's disregard for royal protocols.
The trip to Nigeria also stirred controversy when the first lady appeared to criticize Meghan's clothing choices, indirectly addressing the former actress's attire at a school visit. She emphasized the importance of preserving Nigerian cultural values and modesty in dress.
In summary, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's recent trip to Nigeria without their children has sparked debate about royal traditions, privacy, and diplomatic protocol, highlighting ongoing tensions within the royal family and public scrutiny of the Sussexes' actions.
