Harry & Meghan Markle touch down in LA after wrapping up three-day Nigeria tour amid ‘delinquency’ row over Archewell
PRINCE Harry and Meghan Markle have been spotted landing back in California after their charity released a statement following its reported “delinquency”.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who had been on what they labelled an “unforgettable” trip to Nigeria, were snapped back home today.
The couple jetted back to the United States after they watched a charity exhibition match at Lagos Polo Club.
Prior to that Harry, 39, had enjoyed a game of basketball with a group of local Nigerian youngsters.
He and wife Meghan spent three days in the West African country, meeting with locals and leaders.
While there they unveiled a partnership between their Archewell Foundation and the non-profit Giants of Africa, which aims to empower young people through sport.
But in the hours that followed the charity hit headlines after it was reportedly declared delinquent, and ordered to stop raising money after failing to submit records.
It’s alleged the charity did not file its 2022 tax return or related costs on time.
However, the docs were filed and the cheque sent, but it never arrived, reported The Telegraph.
The Sussexes’ charity on Tuesday night broke its silence on the alleged cash woes claiming it is “fully compliant”.
Archewell Foundation said: “We have diligently investigated the situation and can confirm that The Archewell Foundation remains fully compliant and in good standing.
“Due payments were made promptly and in accordance with the IRS’s processes and procedures.
“Furthermore, all necessary paperwork had been filed by the Foundation without error or wrongdoing.”
And in a new statement on Tuesday night, California’s Department of Justice confirmed the charity is in “good standing”.
As the couple left Nigeria this week they expressed their “deepest gratitude” for the communities’ “tremendous hospitality”.
The Sussexes kicked off their “faux-Royal tour” with a visit to Lightway Academy, a primary and secondary school in the capital.
They then visited Nigeria’s defence HQ on Friday to meet military wives and senior officials.
The following day Harry was snapped playing volleyball, before Meghan referred to Nigeria as “my country”.
Speaking at an event in the capital Abuja on Saturday, the duchess 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.
“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.”
The Duchess of Sussex recently discovered she was 43 per cent Nigerian, according to a genealogy test.
On Sunday Harry tried his hand at basketball, before they finished up their trip at a charity polo match.
The Sussexes then put our a statement this week about their “unforgettable” trip.
The highlights of the trip to Nigeria
The Sussexes touched down in the capital Abuja on Friday morning to promote the 2025 Invictus Games in Vancouver, Canada.
The Sussexes began their “faux-Royal tour” with a visit to Lightway Academy, a primary and secondary school in the capital.
On Saturday, Harry showed off his competitive side at an Invictus Games sitting volleyball event.
At a charity event that night, Harry and Meghan were pictured standing for God Save The King.
It came as the pair visited Nigeria’s defence HQ on Friday to meet military wives and senior officials.
He later visited a military hospital in war torn Kaduna, around 200km north of Abuja.
The region has seen horrific fighting between nomadic Fulani herdsman and farmers, as well as an insurgency by Boko Haram Islamists.
Meghan referred to Nigeria as ‘my country’ while co-hosting co-host an event for Women in Leadership.
Speaking at the event in the capital Abuja on Saturday, Meghan 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.
They issued a statement thanking the Nigerian people for welcoming them on their recent visit.
It read: “Prince Harry and Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex concluded their unforgettable trip to Nigeria with a cultural reception in Lagos and a polo match fundraiser for Nigeria: Unconquered.”
Their statement touched on a pre-game parade and a “vibrant display of young enthusiasts in polo gear”.
They hailed the jubilant day “filled with sport and spirit”.
It continued: “The friendly rivalry between the teams, aptly named Duke vs Duchess, added a layer of excitement to the event, with the Duchess’s team claiming victory with a score of 5-3.
“The day was capped off with the couple presenting medals, a gesture of appreciation for the players’ prolific talent and dedication.”
The couple’s message concluded with an extension of their “deepest gratitude” to the welcoming Nigerian community for their “tremendous hospitality”.
An expert's view of the tour
Newsweek’s Chief Royal Correspondent Jack Royston has claimed they are treating it like a royal tour despite the trip technically being a “private” visit,
Speaking to The Sun’s Royal Exclusive show, he claimed: “It’s not a private trip.
“I mean, it’s so funny because even that announcement of itself was made at a press conference with ‘welcome Duke and Duchess of Sussex’ in the background and big board.
“It’s a little bit all over the place in terms of how they presented it.
“But essentially no it’s not a private trip, it’s very close to an old school royal tour, except for the fact that obviously they haven’t, in general, invited the media as a whole.”
This is Harry and Meghan’s first trip to Nigeria as a couple, although they did a royal tour of southern Africa in 2019 when they were working royals.
They stepped down from royal duties and relocated across the pond in 2020 – with their departure dubbed ‘Megxit’.