Why Meghan Markle is receiving backlash for her Nigeria visit

Meghan Markle is no stranger to the spotlight and controversy. Her recent visit to Nigeria has panned out no differently. This time, her choice of attire and her “attitude” became the fodder for gossip.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, were on a three-day trip to the African nation since Friday, their first official international tour since stepping back from royal roles in 2020.

Notably, the couple is not on a visit on behalf of the UK government or King Charles but rather on an invitation by Nigerian chief of defence staff General Christopher Musa to bring attention to Harry’s Invictus Games. The African country joined last year and will send athletes to the event for the first time when the games are held in February 2025.

However, when the Sussexes sprung into action in Nigeria, Meghan’s outfit became a subject of debate. And there was more.

Meghan’s fashion faux pass?

Donning a backless, beige silk maxi dress by Californian designer Heidi Merrick, Meghan stepped into the public view. It is called “Windsor Gown-Blush”. Windsor is the last name of the British royal family and the couple dramatically cut ties with it in 2020.

The dress started speculation among the royal family followers if this was a deliberate choice, a mere coincidence or something more. “Did she really choose a dress called the Windsor Dress, or are you being cheeky for fun,” asked a user on X.

Taking note of Meghan’s outfit, another wrote, “But they have been trying to erase the Windsors from their lives completely, but here comes Mrs. Sussex wearing a dress called ‘Windsor’, haha!!”.

“She’s desperate for the benefits without the duty,” added another.

She also wore a dress today that’s called Windsor. She’s desperate for the benefits without the duty.

— Semi-Duchess of Pelican Hill (@DDestroys2) May 10, 2024

The dress, priced at Rs 1,15,600.00, was paired with gold jewellery and a gifted traditional wooden beaded necklace. Meghan wore it during a visit to the Lights Academy in Abuja along with Harry, where they were greeted by cheering masses.

Meghan is not a favourite among those loyal to the crown. Some said she “did this on purpose”. “Meghan Markle is desperate to have ties to Windsor name…Her strategic marriage and un-strategic moves since then have backfired. Like a dress with the name gives her the legitimacy that continues to elude her!”

Meghan Markle is desperate to have ties to Windsor name. Her strategic marriage and un-strategic moves since then have backfired. Like a dress with the name gives her the legitimacy that continues to elude her! 🤣🤣🤣 https://t.co/mnBLfNK2Kp

— Perfect Hire (@theperfecthire) May 10, 2024

While many continued to bash the duchess for choice, others came out in her support saying that people read “too much into such stuff”.

“Honestly, I think people read too much into this stuff. She wears a dress and suddenly it’s a secret message? Maybe she just liked the dress,” one user wrote.

Honestly, I think people read too much into this stuff. She wears a dress and suddenly it's a secret message? Maybe she just liked the dress.

— Victoria Kay (@babevickycruz) May 10, 2024

“Meghan is beautiful!!!" wrote another user. “Meghan Markel is gorgeous, as always!” another added.

‘Phoney’ Meghan

It was not the dress alone. The Duchess was slammed for being “rude” during her three-day visit to the African nation.

Biographer Angela Levin reportedly criticised Harry and Meghan over their “unofficial royal visit” and called their appearance “phoney and awful”.

Speaking to GB News, the author said that Meghan was “awful” and “rude” during an interaction. “She was very rude because one of the teachers was talking to her and there were two girls there joining in politely,” Levin spoke about the visit to Lightway Academy College. “Bored” Meghan “then sort of pulled Harry", which “she usually does”, the author claimed.

Levin also spoke about the outfit. “If you go to a school, a very quiet school that is a religious one, you don’t go with a dress that’s absolutely no backing to it at all,” she said.

Meghan’s Nigeria roots

It is not fashionable to be late anymore even if you are a celebrity. However, the duchess arrived late to a women’s leadership summit on her tour.

Meghan then delivered an empathetic speech and declared Nigeria “her country”. She revealed that a genealogy test showed Nigerian ancestry, which she described as “humbling”.

“It’s been eye-opening to be able to know more about my heritage… Never in a million years would I understand it as much as I do now… It is a compliment to you because what they define as a Nigerian woman is brave, resilient, courageous, beautiful,” Meghan told the audience at the event on women in leadership co-hosted by Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, a Nigerian economist and head of the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

The duchess had announced on her podcast in October 2022 that she discovered through the DNA-based test that she was “43 per cent Nigerian”.

With inputs from agencies