Prince Harry Channels Mom Princess Diana at Bedside of Wounded Nigerian Solider: 'Be Strong' (Exclusive Video)

The Duke of Sussex's warm bedside manor was reminiscent of the late Princess Diana

Prince Harry's emotional exchange at his latest engagement was reminiscent of his late mother, Princess Diana.

On May 10, the Duke of Sussex, 39, paid a solo visit to the Nigerian Army Reference Hospital Kaduna on his first day in Nigeria with wife Meghan Markle. The Duke of Sussex, a former captain in the British Armed Forces and founding patron of the Invictus Games, took one young man's hand during his tour of the wards in a move that channeled his mother Princess Diana.

"Are they helping you? Are you feeling better?" Prince Harry asked at the bedside of Private Habu Sadiq in video obtained by PEOPLE's chief foreign correspondent Simon Perry, who is exclusively covering the Duke and Duchess's outings in Nigeria.  "Get better, be strong," Harry told the soldier, who had suffered from impaired eyesight due to a blast.

The Duke of Sussex similarly squatted next to the bed of another patient, and posed for a photo with officials.

Related: Prince Harry Visits Injured Military Members at Hospital in Nigeria: 'You Do Get Better, I Promise'

The late Princess of Wales was known for her hands-on way with hospital patients and dedicated much of her public platform to smash stigmas around HIV/AIDS and raise awareness of landmines, among other key causes.

"She was not really a gloves person," Princess Diana's brother Charles Spencer previously told PEOPLE. "She was very real and very about human contact."

Her son brought the same warmth to the hospital on May 10, where he met injured service members and toured approximately six wards, witnessing rows of young men recovering from various injuries, including gunshot wounds, ambushes by Boko Haram and limb loss due to blasts.

Prince Harry shook hands with around 50 soldiers, remarking on what was on the TV in each ward, from a Real Madrid vs. Bayern Munich re-run to the news.

Many had been hospitalized for a year or more. Prince Harry encouraged them, saying, "You are going to get better, get back on your feet."

Related: Prince Harry Gifted Special Paintings Honoring Princess Diana and His Wedding Day on Solo Outing in Nigeria

During the visit, 23-year-old Corp Yusef, who had been shot through the knee, spoke to Harry. The Duke asked about his rehabilitation progress, asking, "Are you going to try for the Invictus Games team? Are you preparing for that?" He then gestured towards his friend David Wiseman, who was present and is overseeing the international expansion of the Invictus Games, saying, "Don't disappoint us or him! We'll see you there."

As Harry left the ward, Yusef was doing push-ups on the bed to show his motivation to get ready.

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Nigeria made its debut at the latest cycle of the Invictus Games in Düsseldorf, Germany in September 2023, and Prince Harry traveled to the African country following a short stay in the U.K. this week to mark the 10-year anniversary of Invictus. Nigeria competed at the latest cycle of the Invictus Games in September 2023, and the Minister of Defense Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar Badaru expressed willingness to host the event should Nigeria be granted the opportunity in the future.

Prince Harry and Meghan’s trip to Nigeria is significant as their first international tour since stepping back from their royal roles in 2020, and the couple traveled abroad at the invitation of the Chief of Defense Staff, the country’s highest ranking military official.

The schedule is set to highlight the Invictus Games, and Prince Harry was reminded of his mother Diana when he was surprised with a painting of a photo of them together when he touched down in Kaduna to greet Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State before heading to the hospital.

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