Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been criticised for “promoting themselves” during their three day visit to Nigeria, dubbed as a “de facto royal tour”.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex wrapped up their trip abroad following Harry’s brief solo return to the UK, where he failed to see any members of the Royal Family.
Speaking to GBN America, Royal Commentator Lee Cohen said the “quasi royal tour” was an opportunity for them to be “celebrities” and “only promote themselves”, not the Royal Family or their respective native countries.
In a discussion with host Nana Akua, Cohen claimed the couple are “changing up their brand” and criticised Meghan for now “selling jam” as part of her new lifestyle project, American Riviera Orchard.
Lee Cohen says Prince Harry and Meghan are ‘casting for relevance’ following their visit
Getty / GBNA
Cohen told GBNA: “I believe that the Sussexes are casting about for any relevance, and they keep changing their branding and changing so many things, and selling jam.
“Are any of these things really working?”
Discussing their decision to embark on their tour of Nigeria, Cohen said the move was in favour of their “favourite subject”.
He added: “Now they’ve taken this opportunity to go on a quasi-royal tour in representation not of any nation, but in representation of their favourite subject, themselves.”
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have wrapped up their three day visit to Nigeria
Getty
Host Nana Akua was in agreement with Cohen, and admitted the trip felt “nostalgic” of a royal tour that they could have carried out as working royals.
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Nana explained: “Whilst all the pictures and the coverage look great, I kind of felt a sense of nostalgia, I thought this would be wonderful if you looked at it and didn’t know the back story, you’d think how amazing this is.
“But unfortunately you can’t wipe the back story.”
Nana also highlighted the “masterstroke” carried out at the end of Harry and Meghan’s trip, as they were played the UK’s national anthem, God Save the King.
Asking for Cohen’s thoughts on the move, she jibed: “The fact that the national anthem was played whilst they were there, that was a masterstroke.
Lee Cohen says Meghan and Harry are ‘celebrities’ who are ‘promoting themselves’
GBNA
“That was hilarious, because clearly the Nigerians respect the British Royal Family.”
Cohen responded: “There’s great irony. If I were British, I would be outraged because the Sussexes only officially represent themselves, not the British nation.
“They are celebrities and social media influencers, a far cry from being the statesmen that this quasi royal tour gives a whiff of.
“And once again, as an American third party, I find it incredibly disrespectful to the British people that anyone praise or celebrate their efforts in Nigeria, or anywhere of a couple who has so insulted the British people.”
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex travelled to Nigeria for three days, after being invited by the country’s highest-ranking military official, Christopher Musa.
The royal couple championed their Archewell Foundation’s mental health initiatives for young people and promoted the Invictus Games, which Nigeria joined for the first time last year.