Meghan Markle has thanked Nigerians for welcoming her to ‘my country’ as she hopes she can ‘do justice’ to being a ‘role model’.
The Duchess of Sussex wowed crowds in Nigeria today with her third outfit of the day as she and Prince Harry continue their whirlwind royal tour to Nigeria.
Meghan arrived almost an hour late to the women in leadership summit in a spaghetti strapped red dress without her husband Prince Harry.
She told the audience: ‘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.’
She added: ‘I am just flattered and honored and inspired. It has been a whirlwind 24 hours since we arrived, and I very quickly got the memo that I need to wear more colour, so I can fit in with all of you and your incredible fashion.’
When asked how she felt after discovering she was 43% Nigerian through a genealogy test, Meghan said the first thing she did was ‘call my mom, because I wanted to know if she had any awareness of it.’
Meghan went on: ‘Being African-American, part of it is really not knowing so much about your lineage or background, where you come from specifically.
‘And it was exciting for both of us to discover more and understand what that really means.
‘Never in a million years would I have understood it as much as I do now,’ Meghan said.
‘It’s been really eye-opening and humbling to be able to know more about my heritage and to be able to know this is just the beginning of that discovery.’
Earlier today, Meghan wowed crowds again as she attended a lunch with the Nigerian defence minister.
Wearing a shoulderless St Agni full length white dress Meghan Markle drew gasps from onlookers as she walked into the officers mess for the reception with the Nigerian chief of defence staff Christopher Musa.
Harry had a cream linen suit and was heard joking with one guest who was wearing a black tuxedo: ‘Love your jacket. I want it.’
After being seated the British and Nigerian national anthems were played with the couple facing a stage decorated with red, white and blue balloons.
The lunch event came shortly after Harry and Meghan attended a sitting volleyball match and were mobbed by fans as they carried on their Nigeria visit – which has become a royal tour in all but name.