PRINCE Harry and Meghan Markle took to the volleyball court today at the start of the second of their three-day trip to Nigeria.
After watching a seated volleyball match in the capital, Abuja, Harry was invited to try out.
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He showed his competitive side as fans chanted “Team Harry” – just days after Prince William also tried out the sport.
As Meghan applauded him in the officers’ mess at the defense headquarters in Asokoro, she was introduced to Tiwa Akanbi, 9.
The young woman said of the Duchess: “She said that Prince Harry loves to play volleyball and that he is very good at it.
“And she asked me if I play volleyball at my school. And I said yes.”
Her mother, Desola, 47, added: “She always wanted to meet you.
“She said last night ‘when am I going to meet Aunt Meghan?’”
The session was taught by Nigeria: Unconquered, made up of injured veterans who will appear at Duke’s Invictus Games next year.
After the match, Harry and Meghan took selfies with fans as they made their way through the crowd in a sweltering 33C.
Meghan – wearing a Johanna Ortiz dress and black sunglasses – hugged several women who were waiting especially for her.
The pair touched down in the Nigerian capital on Friday morning to promote the 2025 Invictus Games in Vancouver, Canada.
The event – which sees injured servicemen and women compete in a series of athletics events – was founded by Prince Harry and is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year.
The Sussexes began their “faux royal tour” with a visit to Lightway Academy, a primary and secondary school in the capital.
They were welcomed by traditional dancers and met some primary school students.
Meghan later revealed that dancing was Lilibet’s favorite class, adding: “Maybe it’s just jumping.”
In 2023, the Archewell Foundation supported girls’ education and health in Nigeria, sending school supplies and menstrual products to 2,500 girls in the region.
It happened when the duo visited Nigeria’s defense headquarters on Friday to meet military wives and senior officials.
PRINCESS DI PORTRAIT
Harry received a portrait of his mother, Princess Diana, from the Nigerian government, as well as a painting from his 2018 wedding to Meghan.
He later visited a military hospital in war-torn Kaduna, about 200km north of Abuja.
The region has seen horrific fighting between nomadic Fulani herders and farmers, as well as an insurgency by Boko Haram Islamists.
While at the Nigerian Army’s 44th Referral Hospital, the Duke shook hands with about 50 injured soldiers and asked a bedridden hero if he had given his prosthetic leg a name.
While holding another man’s hand, Harry asked, “Are they helping you? Are you feeling better?”
The 39-year-old received a “big dress” and a hula hoop cap as a return home gift from Kaduna governor, Uba Sani.
Harry and Meghan’s session on the volleyball court took place while brother William headed to Fistral beach in Newquay, Cornwall, on Thursday for a match.
He showed his competitive streak alongside surfers and rubbish collectors after announcing plans to build 24 additional homes in his own Duchy of Cornwall, in nearby Nansledan.
The project will provide temporary accommodation for the local population living on the streets.
HARRY IN GREAT BRITAIN
Harry’s African adventure comes days after a three-day solo visit to London on Tuesday to promote the Invictus Games.
On Wednesday, he spoke at an event at St. Paul’s Cathedral, where he gave a Bible reading from Corinthians that emphasized that different people have different gifts and strengths.
Another reading from Isaiah spoke of stopping “pointing fingers, speaking evil.”
As Harry’s event began, the king met the public at a garden party at Buckingham Palace, just over two miles away.
On Thursday, Harry was the surprise guest at a party hosted by Scotty’s Little Soldiers, a charity that supports bereaved children of military personnel.
The Duke’s spokesman said that the King’s “complete program” prevented the two from meeting, but stressed that he “hopes to see his father soon”.
The pair last met at Clarence House in February after not seeing each other for 16 months.
Harry told the BBC it was “great” to be back in the UK before leaving the UK on Thursday night.
Next year’s Invictus Games will be the first to feature a winter sport element.
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This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
