Never mind faux-royal, Harry and Meghan's tour of Nigeria was decidedly presidential: IAN GALLAGHER in Lagos lifts the lid on the Duke and Duchess' jam-packed visit

13/05/2024

Never mind faux-royal, the final leg of Harry and Meghan's tour of Nigeria seemed decidedly presidential.

From the moment they touched down in Lagos, the Duke and Duchess were shadowed White House-fashion by secret servicemen muttering into earpieces, armed police officers and scowling special forces soldiers.

Not to mention their own, much smaller security team – and a smattering of anxious-looking female aides in shift dresses and Adidas trainers who trailed the Duchess.

Or should that be First Lady? For as this tour has unfolded – and the enthusiasm for the couple grown – so Meghan has become increasingly stateswoman-like.

Her attire, too, has evolved. Having opted for neutral shades early on, the Duchess then 'very quickly got the memo that I need to wear more colour'. She didn't disappoint Lagos. There were three wardrobe changes, the high point being a stunning canary yellow ankle-length dress.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex attending the polo fundraiser event in Lagos on May 12

Harry and Meghan attending the polo fundraiser event in Lagos yesterday

Meghan made her third wardrobe change of the day as she and Harry watched a charity polo match as their 72 hour trip to Nigeria wrapped up

The Sussexes visited Nigeria as part of a promotion of Harry's Invictus Games

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle attending a charity polo match on final leg of their Nigerian tour

The Sussexes pictured at the Lagos Polo Cup on Sunday, May 12

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex attending a charity polo game at the Ikoyi Polo Club in Lagos on May 12 as they visit Nigeria

Meghan and Harry arriving at a charity polo game at the Ikoyi Polo Club in Lagos on May 12 as they visit Nigeria as part of celebrations of Invictus Games anniversary

Prince Harry arriving at a charity polo game at the Ikoyi Polo Club in Lagos on May 12

As they watched the match waiters and kitchen porters were setting up a huge air conditioned marquee for the dinner which MailOnline was able to obtain exclusive pictures of

Even among the multi-coloured finery on display during a hotel lunch with prominent Nigerians, some of them African royalty, the dress delivered a powerful message.

Not that we saw much of it when she hurriedly left hand-in-hand with her husband. 'Stop taking pictures,' hissed a Nigerian security official to the Mail's photographer. 'If you carry on we will be forced to seize your camera – and investigate you.'

The tour began on Friday in the capital Abuja which, while hardly Stratford-upon-Avon, was beginning to feel genteel in comparison to nervy, crime-riddled Lagos.

'Go, go, go,' screamed an aide to a driver as AK47-toting soldiers positioned across the street were roused from listless indifference.

It was the signal for the Sussexes to move off and, in a flash, the yellow dress was lost somewhere in a speeding, snaking motorcade. We counted 16 blacked-out vehicles, but there may well have been more.

All day long the cavalcade criss-crossed the city, the couple's Lexus 4x4 disgorging them into the sweltering heat at one event after another.

Before leaving for Lagos, for a day of what were mainly billed as cultural events, the Duchess had found time to further burnish her African credentials. Lest there be any doubt, she considers Nigeria her 'home'.

Enlightened by a DNA test which, she says, specified that she is 43 per cent Nigerian, she told children at a school on Friday: 'I see myself in all of you'.

At another event a few hours later, she thanked military chiefs for 'welcoming me home'.

Meghan Markle glowed in a stunning yellow dress as she and Prince Harry arrived at the State Governor house in Lagos

Meghan ditched her neutral style in favour of a vibrant red dress in order to 'fit in' with Nigeria's 'incredible fashion'

Harry and Meghan standing hand-in-hand as they arrive at the State Governor's house where they were guests of honour

The Sussexes walked hand-in-hand before the city's State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, greeted the smiling Duchess with a kiss on the cheek

A smiling Harry being welcomed by Babajide Sanwo-Olu. The couple had earlier attended the Dream Big Basketball clinic hosted by the Giant of Africa Foundation at Ilupeju Grammar School

Meghan previously donned the yellow dress in photographs shared on the couple's social media to mark the birthday of their son Archie

Mr Sanwo-Olu presented Harry and Meghan with a statue of an Eyo masquerade - which represents the spirits of the dead

In her second wardrobe change of the day, Meghan, 42, dazzled in the chique ankle-length canary yellow dress

Mr Sanwo-Olu (right), walks with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle as they leave the State Governor House in Lagos

Meghan shakes hands with a wheelchair basketball player at an event in Lagos

Harry shakes hands of a wheelchair-bound basketball player in another tender moment

Meghan Markle speaks during an event in Abuja, Nigeria, on Saturday

The Duchess of Sussex walks alongside Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, right, Director-General of the World Trade Organization

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Prince Harry and his wife Meghan at a sitting volleyball exhibition match today in Abuja, Nigeria

Meghan looked blown away as she watched the entertainment during a lunch with the Nigerian defence minister

Meghan and Harry attend a Sit Out at the Nigerian Defence Headquarters in Abuja on May 11

Harry and his wife Meghan at a lunch with Minister of Defence in Abuja Nigeria

They sat in specially marked chairs during the assembly at the Nigerian Defence Headquarters

The Duke gave a speech thanking his hosts, saying it was an 'immense honour' to be in Nigeria

Meghan and Harry look on during the dance performances in Abuja on Saturday

Meghan seemed engaged in a delightful conversation with one of the party guests as she attended the reception with the Nigerian chief of defence staff Christopher Musa

Prince Harry is gifted a shirt during the ceremony in Abuja, Nigeria

It was Meghan who really sparked mayhem as she turned up in a strip Joanna Ortiz shoulder less dress to beat the 35c heat and humidity

Then, during a panel discussion before 50 of Nigeria's most notable women, she spoke more expansively on the subject. 'So I want to start by saying thank you very much for just how gracious you've all been in welcoming my husband and I to this country,' she said, before pausing for applause and adding, 'my country'.

Immediately after her genealogical revelation, she said, she called her mother 'because I wanted to know if she had any awareness of it'. She added: 'It's been really eye-opening and humbling to be able to know more about my heritage and to be able to know this is just the beginning of that discovery.'

Return of Meghan the polo wife! Duchess is all smiles as she attends charity match by Harry's side on last leg of 'quasi-royal' tour - as she makes a return to trademark neutrals after sporting colourful gowns in honour of her Nigerian roots

Later, as she stepped off the plane at Lagos, she was wearing, along with a white Carolina Herrera button-down shirt, a skirt fashioned from traditional handwoven Nigerian Aso Oke fabric gifted to her during the Sussexes' stay in Abuja.

It seemed to perfectly complement the scene before the couple – a traditional dance performance on the airport tarmac.

From there, Harry and Meghan visited a school and watched a basketball exhibition, courtesy of the Giants of Africa charity which uses the sport to 'educate and enrich the lives of African youth'. Harry said: 'What you guys are doing here at Giants of Africa is truly amazing.'

Following his volleyball match the previous day, the Duke tried his hand at shooting a hoop – and scored. His wife declined to try herself, saying: 'Harry's the athletic one!'

The Duke, who previously on the trip spoke to children about mental health, then began talking with equal fervour about the benefits of sport. 'The power of sport can change lives,' he said. 'It brings people together and creates community and there are no barriers, which is the most important thing. It's wonderful to see each and every one of you here today, sitting on this court.'

There was excitement at the promise of more sporting endeavour later. Harry and Meghan were to attend a charity polo match. Would Harry hit the field? But he was merely a spectator. Probably the best call, given the sport's elitist image and the fact that 87 million Nigerians live below the poverty line.

Sunday also saw the couple make an appearance at the State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu's house where they were guests of honour.

The Sussexes spent the afternoon at the governor's residence in Lagos before arriving at the city's polo club on the island.

They were due to present the winning trophy and then attend a gala fund raising dinner for Nigeria Unconquered who were hosting the event.

The charity match, which promoted the Sussexes as 'special guests', was held in 'support and uplift' of injured veterans, an advertisement stated.

An onlooker said: 'They looked so happy to be there and it was a perfect day, maybe a little hot but they took their seats and immediately held hands.

'You can tell they are so in love it was wonderful to see.'

As they watched the match waiters and kitchen porters were setting up a huge air conditioned marquee for the dinner which MailOnline was able to obtain exclusive pictures of.

Each table is decorated with yellow flowers and there were several large photographs of Harry and Meghan on show.

The couple are due to fly back to London today and then return home to California.