Meghan Markle and Prince Harry recently engaged with Nigerian charity workers from Save the Children during their latest royal tour.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were all smiles as they were introduced to youth ambassadors Mariam, 23, and Purity, 19, in Abuan, Nigeria, last week. These dedicated individuals briefed Harry and Meghan on their efforts to combat significant issues such as child marriage, gender-based violence, education, healthcare access, and the challenges faced by internally displaced children.
In a video shared on the charity's Instagram, the Sussexes are seen warmly greeting Save the Children's team before participating in a discussion with the two young ambassadors. This interaction took place during their semi-official tour of Nigeria, which was explicitly stated to be unrelated to official UK government business. The event marked one of the tour's highlights for the couple, who described it as fantastic and hinted at future memorable visits. Meghan notably referred to Nigeria as her country following a DNA test that suggested Nigerian ancestry.
The release of the new video coincided with Prince William's social media tribute, which commemorated a decade of African elephant conservation efforts. In the video, Mariam explained some of the pressing issues the country is facing. She said, "I started my activism at the age of 14, the same year that the Chibok girls were abducted. There are so many challenges that children and girls face here in Nigeria: child marriage, a high number of out-of-school children, and many children who are not immunized."
Prince Harry praised the charity for prioritizing the voices of young people. He stated, "This charity recognizes the importance of having young people's voices at the forefront, not just as advocates but also as decision-makers. That's absolutely crucial because you know better than anyone else what's going on and what the conversations are that are happening. But also, it's your future." Purity added, "We won't stop. Every one of us has a role to play via advocacy, our voices, financial support, volunteering. We hope to see a positive change and a better future for Nigeria."
The Save the Children post was captioned, "Thank you, Prince Harry and Meghan, for joining us in Nigeria to learn more about how we ensure children don't just survive but thrive. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex met our youth ambassadors, Mariam and Purity, who are tireless advocates for children's rights and the beating heart of our work.
Children in Nigeria face huge challenges: one in 10 dies before they reach the age of five, three in 10 girls are married before the age of 18, and Nigeria also has one of the highest rates of unimmunized children. But young people are working hard alongside Save the Children to fight for a better future. We've also partnered with GSK to develop new immunization programs and a fund to support local organizations and innovators in child advocacy."
However, Harry and Meghan's visit did not sit well with some royal fans. One commenter on X (formerly Twitter) remarked, "When meeting with activists and listening to their harrowing experiences with abduction and rape, Meghan Markle has a stupid smirk plastered all over her face. She doesn’t even care about her own phantom hostage children; why would she care about children in Nigeria?" Another pointed out that HRH Princess Anne became the Royal Patron for Save the Children UK in 2017 and has been serving as the charity's president since 1970, suggesting that Harry and Meghan might be overstepping their boundaries. There is speculation that Princess Anne, known for her steadfast dedication to the royal family, might address this issue with Harry, advising him to be cautious and respectful.
