Prince Harry told to do one thing on Nigeria visit to regain King Charles’s trust
EXCLUSIVE: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been invited to spend some time in Nigeria following Harry's trip to the UK.
Prince Harry should do one thing to help increase his favour with King Charles when he and Meghan Markle travel to Nigeria, according to a royal expert. Fresh from the Invictus Games commemorative service being held today, later this month the Duke of Sussex will join his wife in the West African country having been invited by the Chief of Defence staff.
Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams told Express.co.uk that speaking well of the Commonwealth and its influence while they are out there would be a good PR move for the couple. He said: “If the Sussexes really mean well towards the Royal Family, as Harry indicated on Good Morning America after seeing him in February after his cancer diagnosis, perhaps they might make a favourable reference to the Commonwealth during their visit to Nigeria. “In their Netflix documentary, they used talking heads who trashed it, despite the Queen having given them important Commonwealth patronages.”
Harry arrived in London on Tuesday, when it was announced by his spokesperson that the King’s schedule was too busy for him to make time to see his son. Mr Fitzwilliams said of the decision: “This will widely be seen as a snub. There is no doubt that if it had been arranged properly in advance there would probably have been a meeting, as the King has always left a door open for Harry. “However when undergoing treatment for cancer and with engagements he is hoping to fulfil as well as his constitutional duties, it wasn’t possible.
“If Harry had stayed in Britain for longer it would almost certainly have been different, but the Nigerian trip looks like a cover for Meghan avoiding Britain, as she is far from popular here as a new poll has shown.” It had been hoped that the King would be able to see Harry, as the Duke indicated his keenness to spend more time with his family earlier this year in an interview with Good Morning America. He referred to his trip to the UK in February to see Charles after learning of his cancer diagnosis, saying: “I jumped on a plane and went to go see him [the King] as soon as I could. I love my family. The fact that I was able to get on a plane and go and see him and spend any time with him, I’m grateful for that.
“I’ve got other trips planned that will take me through the UK, or back to the UK, and so I’ll stop in and see my family as much as I can. One member of the family who is unlikely to want to see Prince Harry anytime soon is his estranged older brother Prince William, as their relationship remains at rock bottom.
Mr Fitzwilliams commented: “It is no surprise he will not be seeing William, the rift is far too deep for that. It’s all very sad especially as it is played out so publicly. There is far more likely to be progress if any contact is private.” The Prince of Wales has his own engagements this week as he travels to the Duchy of Cornwall tomorrow to spend time in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.