Harry and Meghan’s recent three-day visit to Nigeria to promote the Invictus Games became a huge success. Royal fans and experts in the UK had other ideas. Still, as for the welcoming in Nigeria, it was clear that the Sussexes remain very popular in the second-largest Commonwealth country by population.
While Harry and Meghan had the time of their lives, Prince William, Kate Middleton and King Charles were said to have been “furious” about their trip. However, it will most likely not be the only time the Sussexes do other similar “royal” visits, despite not being royal anymore.
The Duke and Duchess’s children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, are far away from their royal cousins, uncle, aunt, and grandfather, and it appears Harry isn’t keen to visit the UK with them. Soon, Archie and Lilibet might be taking their first step into public life as their parents reportedly have big plans for the future.
Harry and Meghan’s exit from the royal family meant a different life. However, now, it’s not only about them but also their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
Prince Archie & Princess Lilibet
Their firstborn child, Archie, was born in the UK, while they welcomed their daughter, Lilibet, in their new hometown of Montecito, California.
The couple lives in a big mansion dubbed “Fort Knox,” where celebrities such as Ellen DeGeneres and Oprah Winfrey are among their neighbors.
While the couple has had their hands full in recent years with various projects, including the Netflix series, Harry’s book Spare, and now, Meghan’s lifestyle brand, American Riviera Orchard, their children will always be their priority.
When Harry and Meghan decided to leave the royal family, many of the perks of being royal disappeared. King Charles evicted them from their UK base, Frogmore Cottage; however, they have kept their royal titles.
The many allegations and sensational stories they revealed about royal life left members of the firm, including King Charles, Prince William, and Kate Middleton, furious. Opinions about the Sussexes differ among royal fans and experts, and in March last year, another controversial happening occurred.
Harry and Meghan announced on March 9, 2023, that Lilibet had been christened by the Archbishop of Los Angeles. Her official title became Princess Lilibet Diana and her brother also received a royal title, Prince Archie. In a statement, Harry and Meghan said they believe the prince and princess titles are their “birthright.”
Harry and Meghan decided to give their children royal titles
The christening occurred privately at the Sussexes’ home in Montecito, where around 20 to 30 people were in attendance.
“The children’s titles have been a birthright since their grandfather became monarch. This matter has been settled for some time in alignment with Buckingham Palace,” a spokesman for the couple said at the time.
The fact that Archie and Lilibet now bear the titles of prince and princess has confused many. While it took some time before they received the titles, Meghan actually spoke about the subject during the now-infamous Oprah interview in 2021.
“They were saying they didn’t want [Archie] to be a prince or princess, not knowing what the gender would be, which would be different from protocol,” she said.
It was understood that Harry and Meghan did not want to deny their children their birthrights. Instead, they want Archie and Lilibet to decide whether to keep or drop their titles when they get older.
Archie and Lilibet will most likely not use their royal titles daily. Instead, they will be reserved for formal settings alone.
While children have the right to carry royal titles, this is not necessarily a good thing. According to royal expert and author Angela Levin, it could have an unwanted impact on Archie and Lilibet’s futures.
Expert claimed Archie & Lilibet’s royal titles will be a “burden”
In a piece for Sky, Levin stated that Lilibet now has a significant burden on her shoulders due to her parent’s decision.
“It will take a long time for little Lilibet to realize the extent of the burden her parents have placed on her young shoulders,” Levin said at the time.
She added that by giving their daughter a princess title, Harry and Meghan have now “glued her to the British Royal Family,” the same establishment they have criticized for many years.
“Why on earth would you want your daughter to experience such anguish?” Angela Levin asked, stating that Lilibet’s everyday life will be more challenging since she has the princess title attached to her name.
“Little girls obviously love being a princess at parties, but if Lilibet is the only one in the class who is a real princess, it could lead to jealousy that could easily be avoided,” the royal expert concluded.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle left royal life behind, which meant no more engagements to attend to. However, some weeks ago, Harry and Meghan embarked on what some saw as a ‘royal’ visit when they spent three days in Nigeria to champion the Invictus Games.
Harry & Meghan’s Nigeria trip – a “royal” visit?
The couple arrived in Abuja, Nigeria, to a vast crowd, smiling and taking selfies. They wanted to highlight mental health problems for young people affected by conflicts, and the trip included a visit to the Lightway Academy, which received support from Harry and Meghan’s Archewell Foundation. As per AP, the school trains young girls affected by conflicts in Nigeria.
Harry and Meghan also met with wounded soldiers and their families, and the three-day trip was a huge success. The Sussexes have battled bad press in the last couple of years, not least because of the many allegations made against the royal family, but now, at least for Meghan Markle, it appears that the tide has turned.
However, the Nigeria visit is sparking different reactions in the UK. According to a royal insider speaking with the Mirror, Prince William and Kate Middleton are “furious” about Harry and Meghan’s visit.
Before the three-day visit, Harry and Meghan received hefty criticism as it was seen as somewhat of an “unofficial royal tour.” Meanwhile, they were accused of damaging the royal family’s ties to the Commonwealth.
Royal expert Tom Bower suggested that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were playing the “royal card.”
Meanwhile, author Phil Dampier stated that the Nigeria visit seemed “ironic” since the Sussexes had previously criticized the Commonwealth.
“It’s ironic that the late Queen wanted Harry and Meghan to very much be her ambassadors throughout the Commonwealth and spread goodwill among its fifty or so nations, but they didn’t want to do it as royals,” Dampier told the Daily Mail.
“Now they are happy to pick and choose invitations they receive from these countries.” He also suggested the Sussexes are trying “to set up a rival court, their own royal roadshow.”
Royal family “furious” over Sussexes’ Nigeria tour
Prince William and Kate Middleton have a lot on their plate at the moment. That they are now, as royal expert Tom Quinn says, “furious” about Harry and Meghan’s Nigeria visit doesn’t make things easier.
The royal expert told the Mirror that the Prince and Princess of Wales are not only angry with Harry and Meghan Markle. Moreover, he suggests that the couple fears that their nightmare has come true.
“William is absolutely furious and determined to find a way to stop this happening in the future. Charles is said to be angrier than anyone has ever seen him,” Quinn told the Mirror, adding that William is upset that the Nigerians “treated Meghan and Harry as if they too thought this was an official tour.”
“It’s as if Harry and Meghan have gone rogue—their Nigeria trip is a bold statement that they refuse to accept they are no longer working royals. William and Charles are scratching their heads and thinking, ‘How are we going to control this nightmare situation?’”
The royal expert concluded that Harry and Meghan Markle were welcomed in a way that included all the elements of an official royal visit.
Quinn said the Sussexes’ speeches in the African country “gave the impression that they are still fully paid-up royals.”
“For Charles and William, it’s as if Meghan and Harry are saying, ‘We don’t need your permission to be working royals – we will do it on our own terms whenever and wherever we like,’” Tom Quinn told the Mirror.
Harry & Meghan consider bringing Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet on future tours
Harry and Meghan have repeatedly stated that they want to live a more secluded life, not least for their children’s sake. While Prince William and Kate Middleton’s children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, will slowly be schooled into public life and have already been seen at official outings, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet can become whatever they want.
But now, it appears that Harry and Meghan could put their children in the spotlight. According to royal expert Tom Quinn, the Sussexes are considering bringing Archie and Lilibet on appearances when traveling abroad in the future.
Prince Archie joined his parents when they visited South Africa on a royal tour in 2019. Lilibet, however, has been kept out of the spotlight.
“Meghan is acutely aware of what a great look this will be – the charming royal couple with their charming royal children will attract the sort of publicity that Harry and Meghan crave, especially now that they are so determined to be billionaire entrepreneurs,” Quinn told the Mirror.
The royal expert added, “While Harry and Meghan go on with their increasingly prominent royal lives, Kate and William are left floundering and Meghan and Harry know it.”
