Meghan Markle and Prince Harry visited a school in Nigeria the weekend before last, where the Duchess of Sussex gave a speech and opened up about her two year old daughter Lilibet

Prince Harry has been harshly branded “laughable” by one outspoken commentator for one specific act he performed during his recent trip to Nigeria with wife Meghan Markle. During the tour to promote the Invictus Games, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are accused of acting as if – and being treated as if – they were still working royals.

Royal pundit Maureen Callahan has blasted Harry for “standing at attention” for the national anthem as he appeared to inspect troops at the Nigerian Defence Headquarters in Abuja. Harry and Meghan infamously quit as working royals in 2020 and Harry was stripped of several royal roles.

Royal pundit Maureen told GB News: “It is so laughable and further diminishes Harry in the eyes of the royals and the world. He is standing at attention as though he still holds his military honours and titles. As if he wasn’t stripped of them when he left.” Maureen suggested that Harry and Meghan appeared to be “playing as though they’re still royals”. She found it peculiar considering they’ve “spent the past four to five years telling us how terrible it was to be Royals.”

Prince Harry stands to attention after ‘inspecting’ the troops ( 
Image:
Getty Images for The Archewell Foundation)

Also on the trip, Meghan dropped a quirky anecdote about her daughter, Princess Lilibet, sparking some eye-rolls from Royal watchers. The Duchess of Sussex was in the African nation alongside Harry for a series of fundraising events and also visited a school in Abuja supported by their Archewell Foundation.

While addressing students at Lightway Academy, Meghan shared a peculiar conversation she had with her daughter. “Our daughter, Lili, she’s much, much tinier than you guys,” she said. She went on to reveal: “She’s about to turn three. And a few weeks ago she looked at me and she would just see the reflection in my eyes. And she [goes], ‘Mama, I see me in you’.”

Harry appeared to ‘inspect’ the troops at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja ( 
Image:
Getty Images for The Archewell Foundation)
Meghan added: “Oh, now she was talking really literally. But I hung onto those words in a very different way. And I thought, yes, I do see me in you, and you see me in you.” She wrapped up her speech by saying: “As I look around this room, I see myself in all of you as well.”

Royal pundit Maureen Callahan scoffed at Meghan’s tale, questioning its authenticity given Lilibet’s tender age. She said: “Meghan Markle tells this story with a straight face.” She added: “What is the point of this trip? She spent the whole time talking about herself. It is laughable.”

Harry was previously criticised on social media for his decision to inspect troops during his trip to Nigeria, despite being stripped of his military titles three years ago. Footage from the event shows Harry being greeted by a ceremonial performance before carrying out the inspection. Some people have slammed the move and branded it “cringy” after Harry was stripped of his titles.

Taking to Twitter, one critic said: “This whole thing is a —— joke.” Another added: “Why King Charles can’t stop them? They really think it’s a Royal Tour. It’s cringy.” A third person agreed: “Harry has only been away playing dress up, pretending to inspect the troops and standing to attention to the National Anthem as though he’s still a Senior working Royal representing King & Country.” [sic]

Meghan Markle delivered a speech to young children ( 
Image:
Anadolu via Getty Images)

Meghan spoke about Princess Lilibet during her appearance ( 
Image:
PA)

However, not everyone found an issue with Harry inspecting the troops. One fan wrote: “This part, though, “Please give our regards to the Duchess of Sussex, Princess Meghan.”, you cld hear plates smashed on that island. Then Prince Harry inspects troops, & that nearly finish the haters off. NG big up yourself, awesome welcome of H&M displayed thank you.” [sic]

Harry served two tours of Afghanistan and previously held several military titles, including commodore-in-chief of small ships and diving, honorary air commandant of RAF Honington, and captain general of the Royal Marines. The titles were given to him by the late Queen Elizabeth II. However, King Charles made the decision to strip his son of the titles when he officially stepped down as a senior member of the Royal Family in 2021.