Harry and Meghan arrive at fundraising polo match on Nigerian tour
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are attending a charity polo match on final leg of their Nigerian tour.
Meghan made her third wardrobe change of the day as she and Harry watched a charity polo match as their 72 hour trip to Nigeria wrapped up.
Dressed in a beige summer outfit with back tie ideal for a hot spring day, Meghan looked picture perfect as she arrived for the final chukka with her husband.
The stunning neutral dress was a stark contrast to her previous outfits on the trip, which saw her sport bright colours and honour her Nigerian roots.
The Sussexes are visiting Nigeria as part of a promotion of Harry’s Invictus Games, the sporting event he founded for wounded military veterans.
The couple arrived Friday in the capital Abuja where they visited a school to open an event on mental health for students there in a trip that also saw the prince meet wounded Nigerian soldiers.
Earlier today they made an appearance at the State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s house where they were guests of honour.
Meghan made her third wardrobe change of the day as she and Harry watched a charity polo match as their 72 hour trip to Nigeria wrapped up
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are attending a charity polo match on final leg of their Nigerian tour
Meghan and Harry turned up to the event hand-in-hand, both grinning with apparent excitement
The charity match, which promoted the Sussexes as ‘special guests’, was held in ‘support and uplift’ of injured veterans
The Sussexes spent the afternoon at the governor’s residence in Lagos before arriving at the city’s polo club on the island.
Meghan, sporting her third outfit of the day, and Harry turned up to the event hand-in-hand, both grinning with apparent excitement.
They were due to present the winning trophy and then attend a gala fund raising dinner for Nigeria Unconquered who were hosting the event.
The charity match, which promoted the Sussexes as ‘special guests’, was held in ‘support and uplift’ of injured veterans, an advertisement stated.
An onlooker said: ‘They looked so happy to be there and it was a perfect day, maybe a little hot but they took their seats and immediately held hands.
‘You can tell they are so in love it was wonderful to see.’
As they watched the match waiters and kitchen porters were setting up a huge air conditioned marquee for the dinner which MailOnline was able to obtain exclusive pictures of.
Each table is decorated with yellow flowers and there were several large photographs of Harry and Meghan on show.
The Sussexes seem to have a soft-spot for polo matches with Harry having played several charity games with and against his best pal Ignacio ‘Nacho’ Figueras – otherwise known as ‘the David Beckham of polo’ – over the last decade, with Nacho later becoming involved in Harry’s charity Sentebale.
As the polo players became friends, the friendship between their wives also grew significantly over the last few years with the duo being spotted cheering their husbands on the sidelines.
Meghan and Nacho’s wife Delfina Blaquier have referred to each other as ‘sisters’ and ‘polo wives’ on social media.
As they watched the match waiters and kitchen porters were setting up a huge air conditioned marquee for the dinner which MailOnline was able to obtain exclusive pictures of
Each table is decorated with yellow flowers and there were several large photographs of Harry and Meghan on show
Waiters and kitchen porters were setting up a huge air conditioned marquee for the dinner
The Sussexes walked hand-in-hand as they arrived at the State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s house.
In her second wardrobe change of the day, Meghan, 42, dazzled in the chique ankle-length canary yellow dress, first seen in 2020, which she matched with a classic pair of nude slingback leather sandals.
She donned the £3,198 Carolina Herrera yellow dress in photographs shared on the couple’s social media to mark the birthday of their oldest son Archie. She also wore the frock in 2021 when she announced her pregnancy with Princess Lilibet.
The smiling Meghan was greeted by Mr Sanwo-Olu with a kiss on the cheek.
Harry appeared to be wearing the same outfit as when the couple arrived this morning.
Meghan has been wearing vibrant colours on the ‘quasi-royal’ tour in order to ‘fit in’ with Nigeria’s ‘incredible fashion’.
Yesterday, she wore a red ruffled hem midi dress by Nigerian designer Oríré while speaking at a Women in Leadership event in Abuja.
She said at the event: ‘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!’
TODAY: Meghan Markle glowed in a stunning yellow dress today as she and Prince Harry arrived at the State Governor house in Lagos
SATURDAY: Meghan ditched her neutral style in favour of a vibrant red dress in order to ‘fit in’ with Nigeria ‘s ‘incredible fashion’
Harry and Meghan stand hand-in-hand as they arrive at the State Governor’s house where they were guests of honour
The Sussexes walked hand-in-hand before the city’s State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, greeted the smiling Duchess with a kiss on the cheek
A smiling Harry is welcomed by Babajide Sanwo-Olu. The couple had earlier attended the Dream Big Basketball clinic hosted by the Giant of Africa Foundation at Ilupeju Grammar School
Meghan’s wardrobe for her three-day visit to Nigeria has appeared to be filled with sentimental choices – and she continued that theme with today’s outfit.
Harry and Meghan touched down in the Nigerian city earlier on Sunday after spending two days in Abuja where the couple were mobbed at a sitting volleyball match.
Dressed in a white Carolina Herrera shirt, Meghan wore a traditional dark and light blue Nigerian skirt that had been gifted to her on Saturday during an official lunch.
Harry sported sunglasses, a beige jacket, and a white shirt, as they shook the hands of military dignitaries who stood along the runway.
The couple, visiting Nigeria together for the first time, stood on a red carpet and applauded and gasped as they were greeted with a traditional dance.
In scenes reminiscent of a presidential visit, their fourteen car convoy – complete with machine guns mounted on trucks – swept from the airport to a basketball court where they met children from a local school.
On the court Harry shot a few hoops with excited kids who were part of a sporting project called Giants of Africa.
‘What you guys are doing here at Giants of Africa is truly amazing,’ Harry said.
‘The power of sport can change lives. It brings people together and creates community and there are no barriers, which is the most important thing.’
Archewell Foundation and Giants of Africa will construct a basketball court in the capital Abuja.
After that the couple went to the Delborough Hotel for a wardrobe change before heading to the reception with Governor Babjide Sanwa-Olu.
Their visit will end on Sunday with a fundraising polo match for Nigeria Unconquered and a gala dinner before they head back to London on Monday and then onto California.
Meghan previously donned the yellow dress in photographs shared on the couple’s social media to mark the birthday of their oldest son Archie
Mr Sanwo-Olu presented Harry and Meghan with a statue of an Eyo masquerade – which represents the spirits of the dead
In her second wardrobe change of the day, Meghan, 42, dazzled in the chique ankle-length canary yellow dress
Mr Sanwo-Olu (right), walks with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle as they leave the State Governor House in Lagos
Meghan signs the official Lagos state register as the Sussexes visit the State Governor’s house
The Sussexes busy schedule today has already seen them attend the Dream Big Basketball clinic hosted by the Giant of Africa Foundation at Ilupeju Grammar School.
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.
They arrived in Abuja on Friday for the 72-hour whistlestop tour of the country after flying in together following a secret reunion in London.
During their two-day stay in the capital city, Meghan told how she had fulfilled her dream of becoming a parent as she opened up about her ‘very chatty, sweet children’ Archie, five and Lilibet, two.
The Duchess of Sussex was speaking at a Women in Leadership event she was co-hosting with Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director General of the World Trade Organization.
Meghan told the audience how much she loves being a mother but admitted that balancing her family and her career posed its own set of challenges.
During the talk, Meghan was asked how she juggled being a mother with her career and she replied: ‘I love being a mum.’
Despite being told more than ten years ago by her friend and mentor that she would never be able to balance the demands of motherhood and her work, the 42-year-old duchess said she enjoys being a mother and her priorities are constantly changing.
During the panel discussion, Meghan said that ‘balance’ in her life has changed over the years and looks different to ten years ago before she was married and had Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
She said: ‘What I think that to mean now is that that balance will always change for you. That balance, what seems balanced ten years ago is going to shift.’ according to Hello.
Yesterday, the Sussexes were mobbed by fans as the Duke of Sussex took part in a sitting volleyball match during their Nigeria tour.
Harry and Meghan were swept from the airport to a basketball court where they met children from a local school
Harry gives high-fives to children at a local school as he attends a basketball event in Lagos
On the court Harry shot a few hoops with excited kids who were part of a sporting project called Giants of Africa
Harry gave a speech at the event in which he said: ‘What you guys are doing here at Giants of Africa is truly amazing. The power of sport can change lives’
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle landed in Lagos earlier today on their ‘quasi-royal’ tour
Meghan appeared to be wearing an outfit made of aso oke – a hand-woven cloth from south-west Nigeria – which she had been gifted at a lavish lunch yesterday. Harry sported sunglasses, a beige jacket, and white shirt
Meghan shakes hands with a wheelchair basketball player at an event in Lagos
Children throw basketballs up into the air at the Dream Big Clinic
Harry shakes hands of a wheelchair-bound basketball player in another tender moment
The outfit Meghan is wearing today looks similar to one she was gifted yesterday
Meghan Markle speaks during an event in Abuja, Nigeria, on Saturday
The Duchess of Sussex walks alongside Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, right, Director-General of the World Trade Organization
Prince Harry was met by cheering crowds as he took his place on the court during a sitting volleyball match during a tour of Nigeria
A touching moment sees Meghan Markle, who turned up in an embroidered £2,275 Joanna Ortiz Tropicana Nights dress, patterned with black and white palm leaves, chatting to a young girl
Prince Harry and his wife Meghan at a sitting volleyball exhibition match today in Abuja, Nigeria
A new Invictus Games highlights reel, released by Team Sussex, shows Harry and Meghan being followed by cameras during their three-day visit as they are met by a large cheering crowd.
The Prince, wearing a black Invictus Games branded polo shirt, denim jeans and light brown shoes, shakes the hands of his teammates as he shuffles into position on the court in front of the net.
Meghan, who turned up in an embroidered £2,275 Joanna Ortiz Tropicana Nights dress, patterned with black and white palm leaves, claps and cheers on as sits and watches intently.
The short polished montage is presented to a backdrop of high-octane music and shows the couple being surrounded by excited fans.
The outdoor volleyball match at the Officers Mess was their first official engagement on Saturday and once again the couple were the centre of attention.
Meghan was happy to pose for selfies – at one point being lost amongst the crowd – and some were even reduced to tears after meeting her.
The Sussex Squad – a group of Harry and Meghan fans – were out in force as they cheered the Duke and Duchess on their arrival just before midday.
Aptly named Royalty Ojeh, six, was chosen to present a stem of roses to Meghan who pulled one out of the bunch and handed it back to the awe-struck little girl.
As they arrived there were loud cheers from a group of fans holding up placards reading ’43 % Nigerian’ in a nod to Meghan’s recent admission of her west African heritage.
Others jokingly said ‘Harry you owe us dowry’ with London based Michela Rituc explaining;’ It’s traditional for dowry and Meghan is Nigerian so he owes us.
They later attended a lunch with the Nigerian defence minister where they stood for God Save The King.
Meghan looked blown away as she watched the entertainment during a lunch with the Nigerian defence minister
Meghan and Harry attend a Sit Out at the Nigerian Defence Headquarters in Abuja on May 11
Harry and his wife Meghan at a lunch with Minister of Defence in Abuja Nigeria
They sat in specially marked chairs during the assembly at the Nigerian Defence Headquarters
The Duke gave a speech thanking his hosts, saying it was an ‘immense honour’ to be in Nigeria
Meghan and Harry look on during the dance performances in Abuja on Saturday
Meghan seemed engaged in a delightful conversation with one of the party guests as she attended the reception with the Nigerian chief of defence staff Christopher Musa
Prince Harry is gifted a shirt during the ceremony in Abuja, Nigeria
It was Meghan who really sparked mayhem as she turned up in a strip Joanna Ortiz shoulder less dress to beat the 35c heat and humidity
Members of the Nigeria Unconquered team can be seen here on the left, dressed in yellow, while players on the Chief of Defence staff squad are seen wearing black
The Duke was all smiles as he got stuck in and battled hard in front of a delighted audience
Harry’s Nigeria Unconquered team ended up losing 21-25 to the Chief of Defence staff squad with all the players being wounded military personnel
Guests at the lunch were able to choose from five different menus including special fried rice, fish fillet sauce and jollof rice.
There was cow offal with ofada sauce or if you they were reluctant to try the traditional Nigerian menu they could opt for spaghetti bolognese or grilled chicken.
A dance troupe entertained guests with music and rhythmic drumming with Harry and Meghan tapping and swaying to the beat.
A giant poster on the stage was perhaps not the best choice as it featured a rather stern looking Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
During the lunch Abike Dabiri-Erewa of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission gave a warm tribute to Meghan and her west African heritage.