STRICTLY TOUR
Meghan & Harry dance with schoolkids before duchess heaps praise on her ‘smart’ husband who ‘always tells the truth’
The Sussexes chatted away to local youngsters - sharing sweet details about Archie and Lilibet
PRINCE Harry and Meghan Markle were all smiles when they danced with schoolchildren today as they kicked off their 'faux-Royal tour' in Nigeria.
The Sussexes beamed as they waved to locals, chatted to leaders and snapped selfies with teens - after having a secret rendezvous in London.
27
27
27
27
Harry and Meghan are in the West African country for a three-day quickfire trip - and were this morning warmly greeted by locals.
The pair seemed smitten as they danced with youngsters before Meghan praised her "smart" husband who she said "always says the truth".
The Sussexes were greeted with a ‘Welcome’ banner fringed with flowers heralding their arrival which read: “We Are Honored To Have You!”
They were snapped walking hand-in-hand at the Lights Academy just hours after arriving in Abuja.
READ MORE HARRY AND MEGHAN
Harry and Meghan were snapped dancing with a crowd of school children, with grins ear-to-ear as they jumped and twirled around.
The duke was encouraging the duchess to spin, as she's seen laughing before placing a hand on her husband's shoulder.
Later, in a sweet speech, Harry told crowds of schoolchildren there's "no shame" in feeling off.
He told the youngsters: "There is no shame to be able to acknowledge that today is a bad day, OK?
Most read in Royals
"That you woke up this morning feeling sad; that you were at school, feeling stressed; that you've lost a loved one in your family and you don't know who to turn to or who to speak to.
"All of these things you may even be led to believe are not for conversation."
It'll take time to rebuild Harry & Charles' relationship - King wants no part of his son Harry’s ‘circus’, expert says
Harry continued: "Every single one of those things is completely normal, it is a human reaction, whether it's grief, stress, whatever the feeling is.
"It comes from an experience that you have had - you can have it, she (Meghan) can have it, I can have it. They can have it. Every single one of us is likely to have it on any given day.
"So if you take anything away from today, just know that mental health affects every single person."
The prince reminded the youngsters: “The more you talk about it, the more you can kick stigma away, fall far away into long grass, and then everybody will have the opportunity to be able to share how they're feeling, how they're coping, and then you can help other people.
Meghan & Harry's links to Africa
Harry has had a long relationship with Africa, even taking his now-wife Meghan to Botswana for a camping trip as one of their early dates.
Meghan is said to want to “explore her ancestry and lineage" while thereafter revealing she was “43% Nigerian”.
In 2019 the couple embarked on a tour of southern Africa.
The Duchess of Sussex flew with baby Archie to Johannesburg where they were later joined by Harry after he visited Malawi.
During the time apart Meghan told journalists she was struggling to cope with them being apart.
The Duke has also established a charity to help African orphans, Sentebale, with Prince Seeiso from Lesotho.
"So will you promise to us that after today, no more being scared, no more being unsure of mental health. If you are unsure, then ask. Ask your teachers. Ask your friends. Be there for one another.
"If you see your friend in your class not smiling, what are you gonna do? You gonna check in with them? Are you gonna ask him if they're okay? 'Cause it's okay not to be okay.”
The more you talk about it, the more you can kick stigma away, fall far away into long grass, and then everybody will have the opportunity to be able to share how they're feeling, how they're coping, and then you can help other people
Prince Harry
Meghan looked up at Harry sweetly the entire time he spoke to the youngsters.
She then grabbed the mic and said: “You see why I'm married to him?
"He's so smart. And so inspiring because he speaks the truth."
27
27
27
27
The duchess then spoke to mental health as well, saying: "We believe in you. We believe in your futures. We believe in your ability to continue to tell your stories and to just be honest with each other. There is no need to suffer in silence.
"Just make sure that you are taking care of yourselves and that begins with your mental health by really talking about whatever's coming up for you.”
When the Sussexes first arrived at the school they were given strings of wooden beads and serenaded by dancers and singers.
“Bravo” Meghan clapped after one backflip carried out in front of them.
After spending much of the morning with the school children, the Sussexes visited army wives at the Defence headquarters.
He's so smart. And so inspiring because he speaks the truth
Meghan Markle
They had jetted in together at 5am on a British Airways flight after a reunion at London Heathrow's VIP Windsor Suite yesterday.
Harry, 39, had flown into Britain on Tuesday, with Meghan, 42, arriving from LA.
Just hours before they boarded the flight, King Charles had been snapped beaming in Surrey, while Prince William visited a site where houses were being built for the homeless.
Harry also opened up about how he felt about his time in the UK.
27
27
27
27
The Sussexes are set to take part in "cultural activities" during their 72-hour trip after they were invited by the West African country’s chief of defence staff.
The getaway has been labelled a "faux-royal tour".
Harry and Meghan, who is of Nigerian descent, will meet service members and their families, and participate in traditional cultural activities, according to local media.
This is their first trip to Nigeria as a couple.
They're expected to visit three cities while there in their efforts to get the country to host the Invictus Games in 2029.
Harry has had a long relationship with Africa, even taking his now-wife Meghan to Botswana for a camping trip as one of their early dates.
Air Vce Mshl Abidemi Marquis, director of sports at the Nigerian Defence Ministry, said Meghan wants to “explore her ancestry and lineage" while there.
Meghan Markle reveals 'Lili's favourite class'
By Matt Wilkinson, Royal Editor
MEGHAN Markle has revealed Lilibet's favourite class while chatting to children in Nigeria.
She and Harry walked along a green carpet to the 200-student Lightway Academy smiling and waving at youngsters.
Inside, their first stop was in a kindergarten class where children aged two to five danced and sang songs for them.
One little two-year-old girl stepped forward and tentatively shook hands with Meghan.
The tot then decided it was too much of a step forward to shake Harry’s hand.
Meghan said: “We all get shy sometimes."
When they were introduced to the eldest child in the class who’s five Meghan said: “Our son Archie’s five. He turned five last week."
Within a few minutes, the couple were on their feet taking part in a riotous version of “jump up, turn around".
Meghan then said: “That was great.
“Do you love your teacher?”
Harry added: “Is singing and dancing your favourite class?”
Meghan then sweetly said: “That’s Lili’s favourite class.
“Maybe it’s all the jumping around.”
Mr Marquis said the Sussexes were first taken to a hotel, before heading to the Light Academy.
They are then set to meet defence leaders and visit injured soldiers.
Tomorrow Harry's set to field his own team during a seated volleyball match played by Nigeria's Invictus team, before he and Meghan meet with more soldiers and their families.
That afternoon Meghan will host a Women in Leadership event with Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, a Nigerian-American economist who is director general of the World Trade Organisation.
Then, on Sunday, the Sussexes will head along to a basketball clinic that promotes youth getting into the sport, enjoy a cultural reception and visit a polo fundraiser.
27
27
27
27
Mr Marquis said there were several reasons the country was looking forward to hosting Harry and Meghan.
The Telegraph reported he said: “One because Nigeria is now a member of the Invictus community, and his coming will lay credence to the fact that you know, being part of the community, you need to be accepted.
“Number two, that Nigeria is also looking forward to hosting an Invictus Games and three, the need to build a state-of-the-art structure for the management of the wounded and injured soldiers, particularly those with post-traumatic stress syndrome.
“And finally, you know, his wife recently did a DNA genealogy test and it was confirmed that she’s 43 per cent Nigerian, so she also is looking forward to coming to Nigeria to explore her ancestry and lineage.”
Inside Sussexes' trip to Nigeria
The Duke and Duchess are spending three days in Nigeria to promote the Invictus Games.
The Sussexes will be taken to a hotel when they first touch down today, then visit the Light Academy, a school in nearby Wuse, before meeting defence leaders and visiting injured soldiers.
Tomorrow Harry's set to field a team during a seated volleyball match played by Nigeria's Invictus team, before he and Meghan meet with more soldiers and their families.
That afternoon Meghan will host a Women in Leadership event with Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, a Nigerian-American economist who is director general of the World Trade Organisation.
Then, on Sunday, the Sussexes will head along to a basketball clinic that promotes youth getting into the sport, enjoy a cultural reception and visit a polo fundraiser.
The trip comes after Harry didn't meet with his "busy" dad while he was in the UK but said he "hopes to see his him soon".
The Monarch was spotted on Tuesday leaving Windsor Castle around 11am, just hours before Harry touched down.
His son was then spotted in London before he headed to an Invictus event.
Harry released a statement around 2pm saying he would not be seeing Charles, due to his "father’s diary of commitments and various other priorities".
Charles then snubbed his son for a second time - announcing William would take charge of Harry’s former helicopter regiment next week.
On Wednesday afternoon King Charles hosted the palace's first garden party of the year as one of his first events back in the public eye.
Around the same time, Harry was backed by Princess Diana’s siblings at his Invictus bash.
The King was just two miles away.
27
27
27
The party wrapped up at 6pm - just as Harry finished a service at St Paul's Cathedral.
Charles donned a grey suit and light blue waistcoat and beamed as he appeared alongside other Royal family members.
The monarch removed his top hat for the National Anthem performance and could be seen smiling to the crowds.
His Majesty was joined by the Queen, the Princess Royal, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester.
One touching video shows Charles greeting and shaking the hands of well-wishers.
27
27
27
Charles stops to speak to tens of people as Camilla tries to Usher her husband along.
Meanwhile, the Duke of Sussex was in the same city - hugging his late mum’s brother and sister Earl Spencer, 59, and Lady Jane Fellowes, 67, outside St Paul’s Cathedral ahead of a service.
Three cousins — George McCorquodale, 39, Louis Spencer, 30, and Lara Spencer, 18 — sat in a row behind Harry.
A decade ago Charles, Camilla and Prince William had joined Harry at the first Invictus Games in London.
On Wednesday, Earl Spencer and Baroness Fellowes supported him at the hour-long service followed by a drinks reception in the St Paul’s crypt.
Harry arrived at 5pm and greeted his aunt and uncle before taking his seat.
He gave a reading, as did actor Damian Lewis. Ingrid Seward, editor of Majesty magazine and friend of Diana, said the Spencers’ presence was significant.
Harry's mental health speech in full
By Matt Wilkinson, Royal Editor
“Hi everybody,” Harry said, before asking for a show of hands, from teacher and kids, “if I say mental health do you know what it means?”
He went on: “In some cases around the world, in more than you would believe, there is a stigma when it comes to mental health. Too many people don't want to talk about it 'cause it's invisible. It's something in our mind that we can't see. It's not like a broken leg, it's not like a broken wrist.”
“It's something that we are still relatively unsure of. But guess what? Every single person in this room, the youngest, the oldest, every single person has mental health. So therefore, you have to look after yourself to be able to look after other people. And other people have to be able to look after themselves, to look after you. That's the way it works. And there is no shame to be able to acknowledge that today is a bad day, okay?"
He added: “And you woke up this morning feeling sad and you left school feeling stressed and you've lost a loved one in your family and you don't know who you talk to or who to speak to. All of these things you may be led to believe are not for conversation. We are here today to tell you that that is not the case.
"Every single one of those things is completely normal. It is a human reaction, whether it's grief, stress, whatever the feeling is, it comes from an experience that you have had. You can have it. She can have it. I can have it. They can have it. Every single one of us is likely to have that on any given day. So if, if you take anything away from today, just know that mental health affects every single person in the entire world.”
And then, motioning as if to kick a football, Harry added: “And the more you talk about it, the more you can kick stigma away, fall far away into long grass, and then everybody will have the opportunity to be able to share how they're feeling, how they're coping, and then you can help other people.
"So will you promise to us that after today, no more being scared, no more being unsure of mental health. If you are unsure, then ask. Ask your teachers. Ask your friends. Be there for one another. If you see your friend in your class not smiling, what are you gonna do? You gonna check in with them? Are you gonna ask him if they're okay? 'cause it's okay not to be okay.”
She said: “They are very supportive of Harry and always have been.
“It sends a clear signal to the Royal Family and to Harry that Diana’s family are there for him.
“At his address at Diana’s funeral, Charles Spencer said he would look out for William and Harry in her place.
"He said: ‘We your blood family will do all we can to continue the imaginative way in which you were steering theses two exceptional young men so that their souls are not simply immersed by duty and tradition but can sing openly as you had planned’.
“Charles Spencer wanted the Spencer family to be prominent above all others, but the boys were sucked up by the Royal Family.
"Now that Harry has left the Royal Family, the Spencers have laid claim to him again.”
27
In 2019 the couple embarked on a tour of southern Africa.
The Duchess of Sussex flew with baby Archie to Johannesburg where they were later joined by Harry after he visited Malawi.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
During the time apart Meghan told journalists she was struggling to cope with them being apart.
The Duke has also established a charity to help African orphans, Sentebale, with Prince Seeiso from Lesotho.
27
27
27
27