The Duchess of Sussex has said how much she 'loves being a mum' as she opens up about 'chatty' children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet on day two of her whirlwind mini tour in Nigeria.
Meghan made the sweetest comment about her children on Saturday afternoon as she co-hosted an event of Women in Leadership with Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director General of the World Trade Organization. The event aimed to highlight the importance of female leadership and empowerment in driving positive change globally.
Looking radiant in a red summer dress, Meghan was comfortable on stage as she took part in the address with Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.
© Andrew EsieboThe mum juggle
When the conversation turned to how women juggle motherhood with their careers, and the Duchess was asked for advice, she sweetly said: "I love being a mum, I love being a mum."
She then recalled: "When I was on season one of Suits, so that was a long time ago. Now I know the show is having a resurgence, but that was a long time ago. Let's say maybe a decade ago."
© Andrew Esiebo"And Bonnie Hammer, who runs NBCUniversal, was a huge mentor, remains a huge mentor to me. And I remember having the good fortune at the time that she invited me to have breakfast and I thought this was just the biggest deal in the world," she continued.
"And I asked her that exact question. I said, 'How do you find the balance?' And she said, 'You don't, you'll never find the balance.'"
Meghan smiled: "And this was before I was married, before I had children, before all the things in my life have certainly had a plot twist.
"And it struck me and it stayed with me for a long time because you say, 'Well how can you be so successful? And she's a mother as well and she's married and say that you'll never find the balance? What does life feel like if it's imbalanced?'"
© Andrew EsieboMeghan said: "What I think that to mean now is that that balance will always change for you. That balance, what seems balanced ten years ago is going to shift.
"And so being a mum has always been a dream of mine. And I'm so fortunate that we have two beautiful, healthy, very chatty sweet children."
© NetflixProud to be Nigerian
During the Q&A, Meghan was also asked how she felt about being Nigerian: "Well, firstly, thank you all so much for being here. I am just flattered and honoured and inspired.
"It has been a whirlwind 24 hours since we arrived, and I very quickly got the memo than I need to wear more colour so I can fit in with all of you in your incredible fashion. I am very overwhelmed. So I want to start by saying thank you very much for just how gracious you've all been in welcoming my husband and I to this country, my country."
© Andrew EsieboShe added her first thing she did when she found out her heritage was "call my mum, because I wanted to know if she had any awareness of it".
"It was exciting for both of us to discover more and understand what that really means," she said.
Meghan added: "And every single moment that I hear anyone so far talk about what it means to be a Nigerian woman, it is the most flattering thing to be in that company, to be in your company."
Lavish lunch in Abuja
Earlier in the day, Meghan and her husband Prince Harry attended a special lunch for military families with the country's chief of defence staff, General Christopher Musa, at the Nigerian Defence Headquarters in Abuja.
© GettyThe Duchess, 42, amped up the glamour in a St Agni white maxi dress paired with heeled sandals. She teamed the bridal look with a delicate gold necklace and matching earrings, while her hair was beautifully styled in a face-framing updo.
Harry, meanwhile, matched his wife in a white suit.
© GettyThe couple were guests of honour at the Sit Out event, seated at chairs that had "Duke" and "Duchess" labels printed on the backs.
After being seated, the British and Nigerian national anthems played. Harry stood eyes front with his arms by his side as God Save The King rang out.
© GettyThe royals were also treated to lively performances which they appeared to thoroughly enjoy as they faced a stage decked out with red, white, and blue balloons.
A highlight was the dancers performing an impressive human pyramid, with the top, lightest dancer leaping down and doing a back flip in front of them.
© GettyHeartfelt speeches
The couple also heard from some of the wounded military personnel, including Lance Corporal Peacemaker Azuegbulam, 27, who uses a prosthetic and told the reception he is planning to go to the Vancouver Invictus Games to take part in alpine skiing and skeleton sliding.
He thanked Harry for launching the Games all those ten years ago.
During the series of addresses, Abike Dabiri Erewa, chairwoman of the Nigerian Diaspora Commission, brought applause from the room when she exclaimed: "Princess Meghan is a Nigerian!"
© GettyReferencing Meghan's revelation on her podcast that she is half Nigerian, the chairwoman said: "I was excited but not surprised. Because she is beautiful, intelligent, diligent and hardworking and she stands firm in the midst of challenges.
"Prince Harry you married the best — our daughter, our friend Princess Meghan. I hope you come back again, again and again."
Addressing the Duchess, she then said: "Princess Meghan, you married the best man. He is handsome and gorgeous and the best man."
© GettyShe then presented the couple with gifts of a his and hers traditional Aso-Oke outfit.
Harry's moment on stage
Harry also had his moment under the spotlight as he gave a speech, addressing his fellow diners and the Chief of Defence Staff and the Defence Minister.
"Your reception and energy have nothing but been remarkable," he said.
He talked about the last decade of his Invictus Games and "some significant moments that stand out in my mind" including when Team Nigeria "danced on stage better than anyone else" at last year's tournament in Dusseldorf, Germany.
© GettyInvictus Games sporting event
Earlier in the day, Harry and Meghan attended an event linked to the Invictus Games – a training session for organisation Nigeria: Unconquered at the Defence Headquarters Officers' Mess in Asokoro, Abuja – where the couple were invited to watch a sitting volleyball game.
© GettyThe charity uses sport to encourage recovery and rehabilitation in wounded, sick, and injured service personnel to "help them find new purpose".
© GettyHarry's love of volleyball
They kicked off the engagement by watching the game, decked in scarves they had been given in the green and white colours of Nigeria.
© GettyAfter about 15 minutes, the sporty Duke was invited to take part. As spectators shouted "Team Harry" and Meghan clapped animatedly for her husband, she also got chatting to one little girl, nine-year-old Tiwa Akanbi.
© GettyTiwa later said of her meeting with the Duchess: "She said Prince Harry loves to play volleyball and that he's very good at it. And she asked me if I play volleyball in my school. And I said yes."
© GettyHer mother Desola, 47, added: "She's always wanted to meet her. She said last night, 'When am I going to meet 'Auntie Meghan?'"
Warm welcome from Nigeria: Unconquered
At the end of the match, the royals took part in an impromptu group photo session with the teams, with Harry wearing his Invictus Games polo top and Meghan stunning in a Johanna Ortiz dress.
© Getty"We are friends and family supporters of Harry and Meghan," Peace Adetoro, 57, said. "They are a beautiful couple and we love them so much. We support them 100 per cent."
© GettyBefore leaving, Royalty Ojeh, six, the daughter of the executive director of Nigeria: Unconquered, presented Meghan with a bouquet of roses.
The mother-of-two removed one of the roses from the posy and handed it back to Royalty, who said of the Duchess: "She was nice."
© GettyNigeria's connection with the Invictus Games
Nigeria participated in the Invictus Games for the first time in September 2023, attending the tournament in Dusseldorf, Germany. It was there that Harry and Meghan met the country's chief of defence staff, General Christopher Musa, who invited them to visit Nigeria.
At the Invictus Games last year, Harry and Meghan met athletes from the Nigerian team and fans. The Duchess was also given a Nigerian name, Amira Ngozi Lolo. Amira is a warrior princess from a legend, Ngozi means 'blessed' and Lolo is 'royal wife'.
In 2022, Meghan revealed on her former podcast, Archetypes, that she has Nigerian heritage. She told celebrity interviewer Ziwe: "I just had my genealogy done a couple years ago… [and I'm] Forty-three percent Nigerian."
