The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are to make a joint trip to Nigeria in May 2024, it has been confirmed.

The country’s defence headquarters expressed its “honour and delight” that the Sussexes had accepted an invitation for a visit. They are expected to meet military servicemen and women and be hosted at an “array of cultural activities” for a trip linked to the Invictus Games.

On Sunday, Brigadier General Tukur Gusau published a letter in which he said the visit would “consolidate Nigeria’s strong hold” of the games, as well as the “possibility of hosting the event [in] later years”.

Further details will be confirmed by the Sussexes’ office nearer the time.

Nigerian Misan Harriman, the couple’s friend and favoured photographer, acknowledged the news on X, formerly Twitter, with a heart and flag emoji, raising speculation that he may travel with them to capture the trip.

Prince Harry is travelling to London to take part in a 10th anniversary service for the Invictus Games at St Paul’s Cathedral on May 8. Meghan is not thought to be attending.if

‘43 percent Nigerian’

In 2022, the Duchess told her podcast listeners that she had recently discovered she was “43 per cent Nigerian” after doing a genealogy test.

At the opening ceremony of the 2023 Invictus Games in Dusseldorf, Germany, the Duke made reference to the link as he hailed Nigeria – along with Colombia and Israel – for sending its first delegation to the games for injured, sick and wounded veterans.

“Now, I’m not saying we play favourites in our home, but since my wife discovered she is of Nigerian descent, it’s likely to get a little bit more competitive this year,” he said.

It will be one of few overseas tours the couple have done since leaving the Royal family. In January 2024 they visited Jamaica for the premiere of the Bob Marley film One Love, and they undertook what was described as a quasi-royal tour to New York in September 2021.

They have also appeared at Invictus Games events in the Netherlands and, most recently, Canada. The Duchess has not travelled to the UK since the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022.

The King and Queen, then the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall, last visited Commonwealth country Nigeria in 2018.