Prince Harry has been slammed as "laughable" by a sharp-tongued critic for his conduct during his recent visit to Nigeria with Meghan Markle. The pair, who stepped back from royal duties in 2020, were there to promote the Invictus Games but have faced criticism for acting like they're still senior royals.
Outspoken commentator Maureen Callahan took aim at Harry on GB News for "standing at attention" during the national anthem and seemingly inspecting troops at the Nigerian Defence Headquarters in Abuja, despite having been relieved of his military titles after leaving royal life behind.
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."
She accused Harry and Meghan of "playing as though they're still royals", which she finds ironic given their vocal criticisms of royal life over the past few years, reports the Mirror.
Adding to the controversy, Meghan shared a quirky story about her daughter, Princess Lilibet, during the trip, which has drawn some sceptical reactions from Royal observers. The Duke and duch*ess of Sussex were in Nigeria for fundraising events and also visited an Abuja school supported by their Archewell Foundation.
While speaking to pupils at Lightway Academy, Meghan recounted an endearing exchange with her young daughter. "Our daughter, Lili, she's much, much tinier than you guys," she told them.
She continued with the story: "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'."
Meghan went on to say: "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."
Concluding her address, she expressed: "As I look around this room, I see myself in all of you as well."
Callahan has openly mocked Meghan's anecdote, casting doubt on its veracity due to Lilibet's young age. She remarked: "Meghan Markle tells this story with a straight face."
She further commented: "What is the point of this trip? She spent the whole time talking about herself. It is laughable."
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Harry has also faced backlash on social media for his recent actions during the visit to Nigeria, where he reviewed troops despite having been relieved of his military titles three years prior. Video from the event captured Harry receiving a ceremonial welcome before proceeding with the inspection, prompting some critics to label the episode "cringy" in light of his loss of military honours.
One displeased observer on Twitter commented, "This whole thing is a ------ joke."
Another chimed in with a critical remark: "Why King Charles can't stop them? They really think it's a Royal Tour. It's cringy."
A third share similar sentiments, stating "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 and Country."
On the other hand, not everyone was against Harry's actions. One supportive fan penned: "This part, though, please give our regards to the duch*ess of Sussex, Princess Meghan, you cld hear plates smashed on that island. Then Prince Harry inspects troops, and that nearly finish the haters off. NG big up yourself, awesome welcome of HandM displayed thank you."
Prince Harry served two tours of duty in Afghanistan and used to hold an array of military titles, including commodore-in-chief of small ships and diving, honorary air commandant of RAF Honington, and captain general of the Royal Marines - all bestowed upon him by his grandmother, the late Queen Elizabeth II.
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However, these were removed by his father, King Charles, when Harry decided to step down from his senior role in the Royal Family in 2021.
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