Meghan Markle’s recent trip to Nigeria was more than just a royal visit— it was also a heartfelt tribute to her late mother-in-law, Princess Diana. During a reception for military families in Abuja on May 11, the Duchess of Sussex donned a special necklace that once belonged to Princess Diana. It features a delicate diamond cross on a gold chain, symbolising a connection between Meghan and the late Princess of Wales.
According to a report by People, the necklace was a recent gift from Prince Harry to his wife. Meghan often pays homage to Princess Diana through her fashion choices. She has a collection of jewellery pieces that once belonged to Harry’s mother including butterfly earrings and an aquamarine ring. Even Meghan’s engagement ring, designed by Prince Harry, features two diamonds from Diana’s personal collection.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s visit to Nigeria holds historical significance, mirroring a similar visit by Harry’s parents, King Charles and Princess Diana, in March 1990. During the reception, Abike Dabiri Erewa, chairman of the Nigerian Diaspora, reportedly said, “Princess Meghan is a Nigerian!” This statement, highlighting Meghan’s discovery of her Nigerian heritage through a genealogy test, was met with applause from the crowd and a smile from Meghan.
The couple’s visit, at the invitation of the Chief of Defense Staff, marks their first international tour since stepping back from their royal roles in 2020. The trip’s itinerary includes highlighting the Invictus Games, founded by Prince Harry in 2014 as a way to support wounded, injured and sick service personnel through adaptive sports. According to People, Harry and Meghan’s visit to Nigeria follows the country’s debut at the Invictus Games in Düsseldorf, Germany, in September 2023.
Their tour reportedly began in Abuja and concluded in Lagos on May 12 with various engagements including a basketball clinic organised by charity Giants of Africa, a cultural reception at the State Governor House and a polo fundraiser for Nigeria: Unconquered. According to People, the choice to end the visit in Lagos holds symbolic significance, as Princess Diana and King Charles also visited the city during their trip to Nigeria in 1990.
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