Meghan and Harry's 'private' Nigeria tour: Sussexes will arrive in African nation tomorrow morning before carrying out visit to military HQ during three-day trip that will also include stop in Lagos
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will begin their tour to Nigeria tomorrow as they visit the country's military headquarters and promote the Invictus Games.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are set to arrive in the morning before their first engagement which will be a visit to the Nigerian Defence Headquarters in Abuja.
Officials in Nigeria said the couple's trip will be in a 'private' capacity and run until Monday, also including a visit to Lagos. They are expected to meet Invictus Games competitors, visit a rehabilitative sports centre and hold photocalls with soldiers.
Meghan will endure a gruelling flight from Los Angeles to Lagos or Abuja as she is reunited with her husband Harry in the coming hours for their three-day visit.
The Duchess has six main options if flying on a commercial plane from Los Angeles International Airport to Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos today.
These involve a change at Washington DC, Atlanta, Paris, Istanbul, Doha or even London - where she could meet up with Harry before flying onto Nigeria. Harry is said to be flying to Nigeria alone to join her in the country, but this is unconfirmed.
The Duke has been in London since Tuesday where he has attended various events relating to the competition, including a service at St Paul's Cathedral yesterday.
It is thought that Harry will travel to Nigeria today, with Meghan expected to be making her own way there from California. How the Duchess gets there is also unknown - with a variety of long and complicated routes available to choose from.
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![Prince Harry and Meghan, pictured in South Africa in 2019, will be visiting Nigeria this week](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/09/13/84434419-13399861-Sussexes_pictured_during_their_trip_to_South_Africa_in_2019_will-a-5_1715256020163.jpg)
Prince Harry and Meghan, pictured in South Africa in 2019, will be visiting Nigeria this week
![King Charles III during a visit to Gibraltar Barracks in Minley, Hampshire, this afternoon](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/09/16/84660003-13399861-King_Charles_III_during_a_visit_to_Gibraltar_Barracks_in_Minley_-m-59_1715266945879.jpg)
King Charles III during a visit to Gibraltar Barracks in Minley, Hampshire, this afternoon
The quickest flight time is via Washington Dulles Airport with United Airlines which takes 17 hours and 35 minutes including a change of two hours and 10 minutes. An economy single costs £1,651. Premium economy is £3,971 while business is £4,805.
The next fastest option is with Delta Airlines via Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Airport, which takes 17 hours and 45 minutes with a stop lasting two hours and 20 minutes. Economy seats cost £1,577, while a space in the premium Delta One area is £4,826.
The cheapest option for the route is with Qatar Airways via Hamad Airport in Doha at just £617 for an economy seat, but this would be a mammoth journey taking 32 hours and 40 minutes with a stop lasting eight hours and 45 minutes.
Another cheaper option is with Turkish Airlines via Istanbul which would take 21 hours and 35 minutes with a stop lasting 85 minutes, costing £825 in economy.
Other options include flying with Air France and Delta Airlines via Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, which takes 19 hours and ten minutes with a stop lasting three hours and 15 minutes. Tickets are £1,574 in economy.
And if Meghan wanted to be reunited with Harry in London before flying onto Lagos, she could take an American Airlines flight to Heathrow , then change onto a British Airways flight to Nigeria.
This would take 19 hours and 50 minutes with a stop lasting two hours and 50 minutes, and the cost in premium economy would be £3,297. No economy tickets are available, but first-class singles are on sale for £12,677.
Aside from commercial options, Meghan could also look at hiring a private jet – with the cheapest option offered by PrivateFly being a turboprop aircraft from £96,260.
A light jet for the route starts at an estimated £113,870, while a midsize jet is £147,180, a heavy jet is £232,240 and an airliner from £353,670.
However Meghan could of course call on some of her celebrity friends to lend them their jet – while there is also a chance that their flights could be paid for by Nigeria, although this is unknown.
When in Nigeria, the Sussexes will watch a volleyball game and visit military hospitals and charities in Abuja and Lagos, and meet injured armed forces personnel as well as their families.
Their trip is in a private capacity and not an official visit on behalf of the UK Government, given that they stepped down as working royals in early 2020.
The Defence HQ revealed their itinerary in a press conference today, and said that while some of the meetings will be private, the couple will do a photocall after.
The department said Meghan was looking forward to visiting Nigeria to 'explore her Nigerian ancestry'.
It comes after Meghan revealed on her Spotify podcast Archetypes in 2022 that she found out she has Nigerian ancestry, describing herself as '43 per cent Nigerian'.
![Prince Harry meets members of the public outside St Paul's Cathedral in London yesterday](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/09/12/84649491-13399861-Prince_Harry_meets_members_of_the_public_outside_St_Paul_s_Cathe-a-1_1715254917271.jpg)
Prince Harry meets members of the public outside St Paul's Cathedral in London yesterday
![Fans take photographs as Prince Harry shakes hands outside St Paul's Cathedral yesterday](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/09/13/84649595-13399861-Fans_take_photographs_as_Prince_Harry_shakes_hands_outside_St_Pa-a-44_1715259494728.jpg)
Fans take photographs as Prince Harry shakes hands outside St Paul's Cathedral yesterday
During a visit to the Nigerian team at last year's Invictus Games in Dusseldorf, Meghan was given the name Amira Ngozi Lolo, which holds a special royal meaning.
'Amira' means warrior princess from a legend, while 'Ngozi' means blessed and 'Lolo' means royal wife.
Harry also joked about Meghan's ancestry during his opening speech at the games.
He said: 'Now, I'm not saying we play favourites in our home, but since my wife discovered she's of Nigerian descent, it's likely to get a little bit more competitive this year.'
The couple were invited to Nigeria by the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, who met Harry in Germany last September at the games in Dusseldorf.
The competition was founded as a sporting event for injured and sick military personnel and veterans.
The couple will meet service members and their families, and participate in traditional cultural activities, Nigerian media reported.
![Prince Harry waves to well-wishers outside St Paul's Cathedral in London yesterday](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/09/12/84649531-13399861-Prince_Harry_waves_to_well_wishers_outside_St_Paul_s_Cathedral_i-a-2_1715254919497.jpg)
Prince Harry waves to well-wishers outside St Paul's Cathedral in London yesterday
Local newspapers said that Defence Headquarters was 'honoured' and 'delighted' after Harry and Meghan, who is of Nigerian descent, had accepted the invitation. It will be their first visit to Nigeria as a couple.
In a press briefing broadcast live on Facebook today, Air Vice Marshal Abidemi Marquis, who is the director of sports at the Nigerian Defence Ministry, said Harry and Meghan would visit the Wuse Light Academy - an institution they are supporting - before seeing Nigeria's security chief.
Later they will travel to Kaduna state to visit the Nigerian Army Reference Hospital where the wounded and injured soldiers are kept for their medical recovery.
Air Vice Marshal Marquis added that the visit would aid the recovery of injured soldiers to boost their personal self-esteem and improve their mental health.
He continued: 'Their emotional intelligence has been improved and also their families seeing them, as they used to be breadwinners who is capable of continue living.
'So this engagement with Invictus is giving us the opportunity for the recovery for our soldiers.
![Prince William poses for a selfie with a well-wisher on a visit to Fistral Beach in Newquay today](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/09/16/84662599-13399861-image-a-60_1715266972771.jpg)
Prince William poses for a selfie with a well-wisher on a visit to Fistral Beach in Newquay today
'On Saturday, we'll be having like an exhibition of novelty match. The CDS (Chief of Defence Staff) team and the Duke's team will be having a volleyball match at the armed forces officers' mess in the morning.
'And this is just to engage with the wounded and injured soldiers. It's a sitting volleyball match coming in the morning.
'So after that, we have a programme for them by 1pm. A reception, where they will be interacting with families of wounded and injured soldiers and families of soldiers and officers killed in action and service members generally.'
On Sunday, the couple are expected to pay a courtesy visit on Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, and also visit a basketball court for the school their organisation is supporting in Lagos, where a basketball exhibition match will be held.
A reception is also expected to be organised for the couple on Sunday before they travel to Abuja in preparation for their departure from the country on Monday.
Harry and Meghan moved to the US in 2020 after stepping down from royal duties, and now live in a £12million mansion in Montecito, California, with their children Archie – who turned five on Monday – and Lilibet, who will be three next month.