Meghan Markle lovingly calls Nigeria ‘my country’ after arriving at event an hour late

Meghan Markle called Nigeria ‘my country’ at an event after she and her husband flew to West Africa for a 72-hour whistle-stop tour after the Duchess found out about her Nigerian heritage

Meghan Markle has appeared at an event in Nigeria, which comes amid the Sussexes “unofficial royal tour” in West Africa, with the Duchess even dubbing Nigeria as “my country”.

The mother-of-two left her husband behind so that she could co-host an event of Women in Leadership in Nigeria amid the couple’s “unofficial royal tour”.

Speaking at a World Trade Organisation women’s event in the capital Abuja on Saturday, Meghan gushed about Nigeria and dubbed it “my country”.

According to reports, the Duchess arrived to the event an hour late, but made up for it with a glowing opening speech. She said: “I want to start by saying thank you very much for just how gracious you’ve all been in welcoming my husband and I to this country… my country.

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READ MORE: Prince Harry ‘in tears’ when King Charles announced new honour for Prince William”I am just flattered and honored and inspired. It has been a whirlwind 24 hours since we arrived. And I very quickly got the memo that I need to wear more colour, so I can fit in with all of you and your incredible fashion.”

Meghan recently discovered she was 43 percent Nigerian, according to a genealogy test. After she made the discovery, she called her mum and said that it was “exciting” for them both. She previously noted that being African-American means “really not knowing so much about your lineage or background, where you come from specifically”.

“It’s been really eye-opening and humbling to be able to know more about my heritage and to be able to know this is just the beginning of that discovery,” she said previously.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex landed in Abuja, Nigeria in the early hours of Friday morning. After they arrived, the couple went to a school to greet children and give speeches about mental health. Meghan even took selfies with some of the pupils at the Lights Academy while the Duke of Sussex photobombed his wife in a sweet way.

And now the Duchess of Sussex has been seen in new photographs from the couple’s trip, with her appearing on a talk show.

This comes after Harry gave a moving speech while the couple attended a school on Friday. Speaking to the children and addressing the room, Harry said: “In some places around the world, more than you would believe, there is a stigma against mental health. Too many people don’t want to talk about it because it’s invisible, it’s in your mind and we can’t see it.”

The Sussexes are currently in Nigeria for an ‘unofficial royal trip’
Elsewhere in his speech, the Duke of Sussex continued: “There is no shame to be able to acknowledge that today is a bad day. Okay? If you woke up this morning feeling sad, if you left school feeling stressed, if you’ve lost a loved one in your family who you usually turn to or 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 experiences you have had.”

The Sussexes are currently in Nigeria for their 72-hour whistle-stop visit. Their trip to West Africa comes after Harry’s very brief visit to the United Kingdom when he flew to his former country of residence the day after his son, Prince Archie, turned five.

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