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Prince Harry and Meghan 'are NOT representing the UK Government' on Nigeria trip, British High Commissioner confirms
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are not representing the UK Government on their trip to Nigeria, the British High Commissioner has confirmed.
The Sussexes touched down in Abuja this morning for their 72-hour whistle stop tour after flying in together following a secret reunion in London.
The visit is primarily to promote the Invictus Games, but many observers have noted its similarity to a traditional royal tour.
However, given the couple are no longer senior royals, the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Richard Montgomery, is keen to dispel any illusions that they are on official business.
'It's great that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are visiting Nigeria, which I understand is at the invitation of Defence Headquarters,' he said in comments reported by the News Agency of Nigeria.
'But they are visiting in a private capacity, not an official one. So, the British High Commission is not involved in arranging or facilitating their programme. They are not representing the work of His Majesty's Government on this visit.'
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are visiting Nigeria for what some have dubbed a 'mini royal tour'. They are pictured in Germany last year
Given the couple are no longer senior royals , the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Richard Montgomery, is keen to dispel any illusions that they are on official business
Harry and Meghan flew overnight to Nigeria with British Airways, with their plane slightly delayed after the scheduled pilot went sick and a replacement had to be scrambled.
The couple, visiting Nigeria together for the first time, were seated in the first class section of the Boeing 777 and were kept apart from other passengers by a curtain.
It comes after Harry said it was 'great' to be back in the UK this week to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games.
The Duke had been in London since Tuesday, attending events relating to the competition including a thanksgiving service.
On arrival in Nigeria just before 5am today, other travellers were held back while the couple were escorted off and they exchanged smiles with cabin crew as they left.
Nigerian officials met them at the airport, Abuja Nnamdi Azikiwe International, and they were taken out of a side door onto the jetty and into a waiting blacked out minibus.
Meghan was wearing black trousers and a brown jacket, while Harry walked behind in a black jacket and trousers and open necked shirt.
Harry and Markle walk down the steps of a British Airways plane at Abuja Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Nigeria early this morning shortly after landing
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, pictured in Abuja this morning, were seated in the first class section of the Boeing 777 flight and were kept apart from other passengers by a curtain
Aides carried their luggage, and they were accompanied by the same security team that had been with Harry throughout his recent stay in London.
The couple are thought to be staying in the Transcorp Hilton in Abuja where the presidential suit costs £600 a night.
Set in picturesque landscape gardens in the heart of the Nigerian capital, the hotel has a restaurant, pool and spa and is popular with expats and diplomats.
It is also close to the Nigerian Defence Headquarters where the couple will have their first engagement at 12pm with General Christopher Musa, Chief of Defence Staff.
Brigadier General Tukur Gusau told MailOnline: 'They will be tired after their journey, so they will rest and then the first engagement is at midday at the Defence Headquarters.
'After that they will travel to Kaduna to meet wounded soldiers at a military hospital there before returning to Abuja for other engagements.'
The Duke of Sussex plays games at a Scotty's Little Soldiers event in London yesterday
The visit is primarily to promote the Invictus Games and comes after Harry met the Nigerian team and General Musa at last year's competition in Dusseldorf, Germany.
It was there that he told the audience Meghan was 'rooting for Team Nigeria' after discovering she had heritage from the west African nation.
Harry and Meghan are visiting Nigeria on the invitation of General Christopher Musa.
The couple are due to visit a school before the duke meets injured service members at a military hospital.
They will also attend a training session for charity organisation Nigeria: Unconquered, which collaborates with the Invictus Games, as well as a reception where military families will be honoured.
Prince Harry's team are pictured outside the Windsor Suite at Heathrow Airport yesterday