Prince Harry and Meghan Set to Visit Nigeria for Invictus Games Discussions
Nigerian defense spokesman Brig. Gen. Tukur Gusau announced Sunday that Prince Harry and Meghan will visit Nigeria in May for discussions related to the Invictus Games, an initiative founded by Prince Harry to support the rehabilitation of wounded and sick servicemembers and veterans.
The exact date of the Duke of Sussex’s arrival in Africa was not specified in the statement. However, it is expected that Prince Harry will undertake the trip following a service at London’s St. Paul’s Cathedral commemorating the 10th anniversary of the games.
Nigeria, which participated in last year’s Invictus Games, has a military engaged in a longstanding battle against Islamic extremists in the country’s northeast since 2009.
Inspired by the Warrior Games in the United States, the Invictus Games were established by Prince Harry in 2014, providing wounded veterans with the opportunity to compete in sports events akin to the Paralympics.
Having served as an Apache helicopter copilot gunner in Afghanistan from 2012 to 2013, Prince Harry has been a vocal advocate for veterans in need of support.
During his visit to Nigeria, Prince Harry will engage in cultural activities and discussions aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s involvement in the games, potentially paving the way for the country to host future events, according to Gusau.
In a recent Netflix series focusing on the Invictus Games, Prince Harry candidly discussed his struggles with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following his return from combat in Afghanistan. He revealed that the emotional impact of his experiences was compounded by the unresolved grief over the death of his mother, Princess Diana, when he was just 12 years old.
Prince Harry’s openness about his mental health challenges, along with his broader efforts to support veterans, comes amidst ongoing public scrutiny of his relationship with the royal family.
