Meghan Markle, during her visit to Nigeria, made headlines by breaking away from traditional royal protocol regarding gifts.
Unlike the strict rules governing working royals' acceptance of gifts, Meghan and Prince Harry happily received various tokens of appreciation from locals throughout their time in the West African country. Typically, members of the Royal Family are prohibited from accepting gifts that could potentially obligate them to the donor.
However, small, non-controversial gifts under a certain monetary value, like flowers or books costing less than £150, are permissible. The Sussexes, having stepped down as working royals in 2020, no longer adhere to these rules, freely accepting gifts during their Nigerian tour.
Upon their arrival in Nigeria, Meghan and Harry were presented with two paintings, one depicting Harry alongside his late mother, Princess Diana, during a sitting volleyball match at Nigeria Unconquered, a local charity supporting wounded service members. Megan also received a charming artwork from a young girl, featuring animals and flowers.
Additionally, they were gifted personalized t-shirts and traditional Nigerian attire during a reception at the Nigerian defense headquarters in Abuja. However, reports surfaced suggesting that Meghan, despite outwardly appearing grateful, may have privately expressed dissatisfaction with some gifts, allegedly passing them off to her assistant and security team.
An unnamed insider claimed that Meghan, more interested in money and luxury items like gold and diamonds, may not genuinely embrace her connection to Nigeria, evident in her reluctance to wear the gifted Nigerian clothing for more than a few minutes. This revelation sparked criticism, particularly considering Meghan's previous remarks in Nigeria, where she spoke about her journey to becoming a princess.
While addressing a group of girls, Meghan shared her story of rising to fame and marrying into royalty, emphasizing the importance of representation for the next generation. However, some critics argued that Meghan's narrative oversimplified the pathway to royalty, ignoring examples of women who married into royalty before her, such as Princess Angela of Liechtenstein.
In essence, Meghan's actions and statements during her Nigerian visit ignited discussions about cultural appreciation, authenticity, and the responsibilities that come with her platform as a public figure.
