Prince Harry’s ‘Look of Bitterness’ During Nigeria Trip Explained by Experts
Despite stepping down from their royal duties, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle recently embarked on a trip to Nigeria that resembled an official royal tour. Invited by the country’s chief of defense staff to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games, their visit has sparked conversations due to Prince Harry’s seemingly unhappy demeanor in several photos.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex spent three days in Nigeria to promote the Invictus Games and advocate for their Archewell Foundation’s mental health initiatives for young people. Meghan was seen beaming during many interactions, while Harry appeared to have a “look of bitterness” much of the time.
Royal expert Tom Quinn provided insight into Harry’s expression. “Harry and Meghan see their recent trip to Nigeria as a huge success,” Quinn told The Mirror, “but for Harry, every success is another kind of failure while his family refuses to acknowledge his efforts and steadfastly refuses to apologize for everything that had happened in the past. In Nigeria, even with Meghan at his side and regularly holding his hand, he still has a permanent look of bitterness on his face.”
The couple’s trip was intended to be a celebration of their causes, yet Harry’s demeanor suggested deeper emotional struggles. His biographer, Angela Levin, noted moments when Harry looked like he “would explode with anger and bitterness.”
In an attempt to control the narrative, Harry and Meghan brought their own photographer, Misan Harriman, who is also a close friend of Meghan. Royal author Gareth Russell explained to GB News that this move allowed them to have significant control over the images shared from their trip. “The Sussexes have shown themselves to be very concerned with controlling the narrative,” Russell said. “Taking their own photographer allows them a great deal of control over what images are circulated on images they choose. I do think the choice of photographer was a deliberate one.”
Harriman captured and shared several poignant moments from the trip, including an image of Harry visiting a military veteran at the Amputee hospital in Kaduna. Harriman captioned the post: “A profoundly powerful moment today at the Amputee hospital in Kaduna. The Duke of Sussex with a Nigerian military veteran. Photographed by me.” This image drew comparisons to Princess Diana’s visits to AIDS victims in hospitals, highlighting Harry’s dedication to continuing his mother’s legacy.
While the trip was aimed at promoting positive causes and strengthening Harry and Meghan’s global presence, the photographs of Harry’s apparent bitterness indicate ongoing personal and familial challenges. The expert analysis underscores the complex dynamics at play in the public lives of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.