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Their Nigerian tour has put a spring in the Sussexes’ step
It seems 2024 could be the year of the Sussexes, with Harry and Meghan said to be lining up more overseas excursions following the success of their recent trip to Nigeria. And, with the triumphant tour coming amid a series of snubs for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, we’re told the pair are finally finding solace in the fact that they can do it all alone.
Last week, Meghan, 42, and Harry, 39, travelled to Nigeria after being invited by the country’s highest-rankingmilitaryofficer. While there, the couple spent three days championing their Archewell Foundation, as well as promoting the Prince’s Invictus Games.
Their welcome reception was in stark contrast to Harry’s recent homecoming. Before flying to Nigeria, the Prince made a solo stop-off in the UK. However, far from being a conciliatory reunion with his cancer-stricken father, it was reported King Charles, 75, was “too busy” to meet with his son. Meghan later met her husband at Heathrow before jetting off to west Africa – choosing tokeephertime in Blighty confined to the airport.
Now, former royal butler Paul Burrell, 65, tellsheat this latest snubwillbea bondingmoment for the former royals. Paul – who worked for the Duke’s late mother, Princess Diana – says, “Harry’s now in the same position Meghan is in – estranged from his family. They’re truly in this together, and it’s them against everyone else.”
Rifts have risen in the once-close royal family since the Duke and Duchess stepped back as senior working royals in 2020, with Harry revealing last year, “I want my dad and my brother back.” Likewise, there’s no love lost when it comes to the Markle family, with Meghan having been estranged from her father Thomas, 79, for many years now.
A head of her 2018 wedding to Harry, it was reported that the Duchess’ father had staged paparazzi photos, with Meghan later telling Oprah during her TV interview, “I grieve alot. Imean, I’ve lost my father.”
Now, royal expert Paul says the Sussexes’ attitude is very much “us against the world” ,with the pair having burned bridges on both sides of the globe. He says, “Harry has never even met Meghan’s father, and now Meghan doesn’t see Harry’s family. They can share in these woes.”
But while the family fallouts are no doubt taxing, another source tells us the couple are getting stronger. Having finished their triumphant tour of Nigeria –where they met schoolchildren, charity workers and the Lagos state governor – the pair are taking the trip’s success as asign that they can succeed outside of the royal family.
Our insider says, “The reception Harry and Meghan got on their Nigeria visit, as well as other things they’ve do
