Meghan Markle has opted for a “good PR” trip to Nigeria over facing potential jeers in England, as she is reportedly more likely to be welcomed abroad than by some royalists at home who “don’t really like her very much”, according to a royal commentator.
While Prince Harry will be attending the 10th-anniversary celebrations of the Invictus Games in London alone, Meghan Markle will instead join him later for their subsequent visit to Nigeria. The couple’s last appearance at St Paul’s Cathedral during Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee saw a mix of cheers and boos from the crowd.
The Duchess of Sussex is set to have discussions about the Invictus Games in Nigeria, where the government has offered to provide security. Newsweek’s Royal correspondent Jack Royston suggested that Meghan can expect “a very positive welcome” in Nigeria, a stark contrast to the reception she might receive in the UK.
Jack Royston, speaking on The Royal Report podcast, reflected on the booing incident at the Jubilee, saying: “The centerpiece of this visit is a service of Thanksgiving for Invictus at St Paul’s Cathedral. Now the last time Meghan went there, Meghan and Harry were booed by royalists. That was during Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee.
“There were cheers as well, but there were certainly boos, and that was during a similar service of Thanksgiving.”
Mr Royston noted that the Duchess might want to avoid a similar incident, stating: “By contrast, Meghan will obviously get a very positive welcome in Nigeria.”
“So, she may simply be choosing guaranteed good PR over the possibility of another moment of hubris at the hands of monarchists who don’t really like her very much. Meghan has generally been a great supporter of Invictus. She’s continued to attend the tournaments, and also not just the actual games themselves, but the ‘one year to go’ promotional events, too.
“So, why not this one in Britain, especially since it’s a whole program marking the 10-year anniversary? It’s a long time until it’s going to be the 20-year anniversary. You’d think that she would want to be there.”
