Plus IconMeghan Markle & Prince HarryChris Jackson/Getty Images.

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It was only a matter of time before royal critics had something to say about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle‘s upcoming trip to Nigeria, and here we are. The Sus𝓈ℯ𝓍es are traveling to Africa in May at the invitation of the country’s chief of defense staff after meeting the couple at the Invictus Games in Germany last year. Now, they are being accused of competing with the royal family over Commonwealth countries.

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While Nigeria’s Brigadier General Tukur Gusau reveled with “honor and delight” at having Harry and Meghan visit their country, noted Sus𝓈ℯ𝓍 critic Tom Bower believed that the duo was “playing the royal card.” He told the Daily Mail that it’s “become Meghan’s and Harry’s income lifeline. Once again, the ‘privacy-seeking’ couple are exploiting the family they have outrageously denounced to pump up their publicity.”

DUSSELDORF, GERMANY – SEPTEMBER 13: Prince Harry, Duke of Sus𝓈ℯ𝓍 and Meghan, Duchess of Sus𝓈ℯ𝓍 are seen at the wheelchair basketball final between the United States and France during day four of the Invictus Games on September 13, 2023 in Dusseldorf, Germany.Patrick van Katwijk/Getty Images.

Royal author Phil Dampier thinks that the Duke and Duchess of Sus𝓈ℯ𝓍 are trying “to set up a rival court, their own royal roadshow.” The expert claimed that they are using “their royal connections” for unofficial visits that could “blunder into a diplomatic incident” if they do something wrong. What Dampier seems to forget is that Harry’s Invictus Games are quite popular and countries are courting him to bring the athletic event to their area — just like the U.K. is for Birmingham in 2027.

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While royalists in the U.K. often have something negative to say about Harry and Meghan, others like royal author Cele Otnes pointed out in 2022 that the palace underestimated the global appeal of the couple. Referencing Tina Brown’s book, The Palace Papers, she told the U.K.’s Express, “There’s a great quote where Tina says one of the big problems with Harry and Meghan leaving the brand is that now there is this ‘charisma vacancy.’ I love that.”

There is also Meghan’s ties to the country after she discovered she is 43% Nigerian after doing genealogy research into her family history, which she revealed on her Archetypes podcast in 2022. It makes sense for the Nigerian government to welcome the Sus𝓈ℯ𝓍es with open arms because they are bringing goodwill and attention to their country. Meghan and Harry offer something completely different than what King Charles III and Queen Camilla could offer during a visit — but the royal critics fail to see that.