Prince Harry, Duchess Meghan visit school children as part of first trip to Nigeria

Taijuan Moorman, USA TODAY

Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan are starting off their first trip to Nigeria with a lively fun visit to a school.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex visited Lightway Academy in Abuja, Nigeria, on Friday during the visit as part of celebrations of the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games.

Harry, 39, and Meghan, 42, met with students and faculty, took part in activities and watched performances upon their arrival.

Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan meet with children during their visit to the Lightway Academy in Nigeria on May 10, 2024, as part of celebrations of Invictus Games anniversary.
Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan meet with children during their visit to the Lightway Academy in Nigeria on May 10, 2024, as part of celebrations of Invictus Games anniversary.

Harry and Meghan's other plans for their weekend Nigeria trip include meeting with the country's chief of defense staff and attending a reception in honor of military families. Harry is set to meet with injured service members at a military hospital as well.

The duchess is also set to co-host an event for women in leadership, and both will attend a polo fundraiser for the charity Nigeria: Unconquered.

Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan watch a dance being performed at the Lightway Academy on May 10, 2024 in Abuja, Nigeria.
Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan watch a dance being performed at the Lightway Academy on May 10, 2024 in Abuja, Nigeria.

Harry is just coming off a trip to his hometown of London for its own Invictus Games celebration, after first bringing the games to the city in 2014.

To mark the milestone, he attended a panel discussion with the organization on Tuesday and on Wednesday, he attended a celebration at St Paul's Cathedral along with veterans involved in the various Invictus Games sports.

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, arrive at the Lightway Academy in Abuja on May 10, 2024.
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, arrive at the Lightway Academy in Abuja on May 10, 2024.
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex (first row, second right), takes a selfie with students as she arrives with Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex (back, far right), during their visit at the Lightway Academy in Abuja on May 10, 2024.
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex (first row, second right), takes a selfie with students as she arrives with Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex (back, far right), during their visit at the Lightway Academy in Abuja on May 10, 2024.

Harry notably did not meet with his father, King Charles III, during the trip back to his home country. A spokesperson for Harry said a reunion amid Charles' cancer diagnosis "unfortunately will not be possible due to His Majesty's full" schedule. They did have a private reunion in February after the palace confirmed the king was diagnosed with an undisclosed "form of cancer."

"I spoke to him. And I jumped on a plane and went to go see him as soon as I could," the Duke of Sussex said on "Good Morning America" in a segment about the moment he learned about his father's health.

He continued, "I love my family. The fact that I was able to get on a plane, go and see him, and spend any time with him – I'm grateful for that. … I've got other trips planned that will take me through the U.K., or back to the U.K., and so I'll stop in and see my family as much as I can."

Contributing: Naledi Ushe

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Meghan Markle, Prince Harry kick off first Nigeria trip: See photos

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