Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Suggest More African Tours in the Works, Express Gratitude to Nigeria for Inaugural Memorable Trip
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are heading back to California after departing from Abuja yesterday, concluding a three-day visit to Nigeria at the invitation of the military.
In a press release on Sussex.com today, the couple described their time in Nigeria as “unforgettable,” following the visit tied to Harry’s Invictus Games competition. They also hinted at the possibility of future quasi-royal tours across Africa.
Their statement further expressed: “The Duke and Duchess extend their deepest gratitude to all event organizers, military officials, and the entire Nigerian community for their tremendous hospitality, marking the first of many memorable trips.”
However, the Sussexes made no reference to the overnight emergence of news that their Archewell Foundation had been listed as ‘delinquent’ by a US charity regulator. Sources close to the couple asserted today that this was due to state officials not processing a cheque.
In a statement released on Sussex.com, the couple described their experience in Nigeria as ‘unforgettable.’
Eight press releases have been issued on Sussex.com regarding the couple’s trip to Nigeria, which encompassed visits to Abuja and Lagos. The trip spanned from last Friday until Sunday of last week.
Yesterday, it is believed that Harry and Meghan flew from Abuja to London Heathrow before continuing on to Los Angeles to reunite with their children, Archie and Lilibet.
Today, in a press release marking the conclusion of their trip, the Sussexes reflected on their time in Lagos and their attendance at a polo match.
The statement read: “Prince Harry and Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, wrapped up their unforgettable journey in Nigeria with a cultural reception in Lagos and a polo match fundraiser for Nigeria: Unconquered.
“The couple was warmly welcomed with a lively pre-game parade, featuring enthusiastic young polo enthusiasts in traditional gear, proudly waving Nigeria’s green and white flags. This was followed by a procession of older children on horseback, setting the stage for a day brimming with sportsmanship and camaraderie.
“The friendly competition between the teams, cleverly dubbed Duke vs. Duchess, heightened the excitement, culminating in the Duchess’s team securing victory with a score of 5-3. The day concluded with the couple presenting medals, a gesture acknowledging the players’ remarkable skill and commitment.”
Harry and Meghan participated in a charitable polo match at the Ikoyi Polo Club in Lagos on May 12.
On May 12, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle paid a visit to the Lagos State Governor’s Office in Nigeria.
“The Duke and Duchess express their profound appreciation to all event organizers, military personnel, and the entire Nigerian community for their extraordinary hospitality during this inaugural and undoubtedly memorable journey.”
This comes in the wake of Harry and Meghan’s trip to Nigeria, where they focused on promoting mental health among soldiers and empowering young people.
During their visit, the couple participated in events connected to Harry’s Invictus Games, which Nigeria aspires to host in the future. They were also received warmly at the Lagos State Government House and held discussions with military officials at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja.
In the aftermath of their journey, sources close to Harry and Meghan disclosed today that the Archewell Foundation encountered issues being labeled ‘delinquent’ due to a $200 (£160) cheque not being processed by state officials. Additionally, the organization was deemed ‘not in good standing’ by the Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, a division of the California Department of Justice. This regulatory body cited Archewell’s failure to submit its annual report or renewal fees properly, resulting in a temporary prohibition on fundraising or disbursing charitable funds.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stand for “God Save The King” in Abuja, Nigeria, on May 11th.
Meghan beams as she accepts flowers during a sitting volleyball match in Abuja on May 11th.
However, sources close to the Sussexes asserted today that the issuance of the ‘delinquency notice’ stemmed from the failure of Attorney General Rob Bonta’s office to process the $200 cheque.
This explanation contrasts with the one provided by the same Sussex sources last night. They had claimed that the paperwork was filed on schedule, but an issue arose due to a missing cheque accompanying the documents in the mail.
Sources close to the Sussexes informed MailOnline this morning that the Archewell Foundation’s tax filings for 2022 were submitted complete and in compliance with all US regulations, a fact widely reported in the media last December, including by this website.
According to the sources, the California state filing, renewal, and requisite payment were dispatched and delivered to the Attorney General’s office via tracked mail, arriving punctually. Nonetheless, the delinquency notice was issued on May 3 because the cheque had not been processed by the Attorney General’s Office, as per the sources.
Meghan is attentively engaged as she listens to speakers during a Women in Leadership event held in Abuja, Nigeria, on May 11th.
Until officials at the Archewell Foundation could confirm the delivery of the tracked mail and receive acknowledgment of receipt, they operated under the assumption that the check had been lost in transit. This initial explanation has since proven to be inaccurate.
MailOnline has learned that the Department of Justice will issue a statement later today to provide further clarification on the matter.
The $200 check was intended for an annual registration renewal fee, which is calculated using a sliding scale based on an organization’s total revenue. In the case of Archewell, its most recent revenue was approximately $2 million, placing it within the bracket of ‘between $1,000,001 and $5 million’ on the sliding scale.
A source close to the Sussexes has confirmed the $200 figure to MailOnline. This revelation coincides with Harry and Meghan’s return from a prominent three-day visit to Abuja and Lagos in Nigeria, which was unofficially termed a royal tour.
Prince Harry is welcomed to the Defence Headquarters in Abuja, Nigeria, on May 10
On May 10th, at Lightway Academy in Abuja, Meghan captures a selfie with students while Harry stands behind them.
Throughout their journey, the Sussexes revealed a collaboration between the Archewell Foundation and the Geanco Foundation, a Nigerian charity dedicated to leading surgical missions, advancing maternal health, and offering scholarships to young female victims of terrorism.
Established by Harry and Meghan after their transition from senior royals in 2020, the Archewell Foundation stands as a nonprofit organization. According to its website, the foundation is driven by a mission to ‘show up, do good,’ emphasizing the importance of taking action and leveraging their platform to support and unite communities, both locally and globally, through acts of service and compassion.
It’s important to note that the foundation operates separately from the couple’s Archewell media and business ventures, which have notably collaborated on productions with Netflix and Spotify.
This announcement comes on the heels of Harry and Meghan’s recent visit to Nigeria, spanning from Friday to Sunday, where they focused on advocating for mental health support for soldiers and empowering young individuals.
On May 3rd, the Archewell Foundation received a delinquency notice letter, indicating that the charity was labeled as ‘delinquent’ for ‘failing to submit required annual report(s) and/or renewal fees’.
Invited by the West African nation’s military, the couple participated in events associated with Harry’s Invictus Games, which Nigeria aims to host in the future.
The couple also received a warm welcome at the Lagos State Government House and engaged with military officials at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja.
According to tax filings disclosed by Archewell last December, the organization experienced an $11 million (£9 million) decline in donations in 2022 compared to the previous year. The records revealed that the charity received just over $2 million (£1.6 million) in charitable donations in 2022, down from $13 million (£10 million) in 2021.
Additionally, while Archewell reported revenue of over $9 million (£7 million) in 2021, the December 2023 filings indicated a loss of more than $674,000 (£537,000) in 2022 due to costs amounting to $2.67 million (£2.13 million).
