Prince Harry joins wounded troops for volleyball match on Nigerian tour

Hannah Furness
·2 min read
4

The Duke of Sussex joined in a sitting volleyball game in Nigeria for wounded troops on Saturday watched by his wife, who was called “Auntie Meghan” by local children.

The Duke joined “Team Harry” on the pitch in Asokoro, Abuja, as part of a showcase of the Nigeria:Unconquered team.

Nigeria:Unconquered, which works in collaboration with the Invictus Games founded by the Duke, uses sport as a way of challenging and channelling wounded, sick and injured service personnel to “help them find new purpose”.

The volleyball game was the first engagement on the second day of the Sussexes’ trip to Nigeria to promote the Invictus Games.

The Duke of Sussex applauds a shot while taking part in the volleyball match
The Duke of Sussex applauds a shot while taking part in the volleyball match - Kola Sulaimon/AFP via Betty Images
The Duchess was presented with a bouquet of red roses by Royalty Ojeh, and handed one back to the little girl
The Duchess was presented with a bouquet of red roses by Royalty Ojeh, and handed one back to the little girl - Kola Sulaimon/AFP via Getty Images
Duke and Duchess of Sussex watching sitting volleyball game
The Duke and the Duchess watched the game attentively for 15 minutes - Kola Sulaimon/AFP via Getty Images

On arrival, the couple were given green and white scarves – the colours of Nigeria – to wear while watching the game.

After 15 minutes in the stands, the Duke was invited to take part. Spectators saw the Duchess, wearing a Johanna Ortiz dress, smiling broadly and cheering when he scored his first point.

Tiwa Akanbi, nine, was ushered forward to meet the Duchess. “She said Prince Harry loves to play volleyball and that he’s very good at it,”  Tiwa said afterwards. “And she asked me if I play volleyball in my school. And I said yes.”

Her mother Desola, 47, added: “She’s always wanted to meet her. She said last night, ‘When am I going to meet Auntie Meghan?’”

At the end of the match, the Duke – wearing his Invictus Games polo shirt – was surrounded by players and their families, and the Duchess walked over to join in the group photo.

Duke of Sussex taking part in sitting volleyball game
The Duke was then invited to join the game and took part enthusiastically - Kola Sulaimon/AFP via Getty Images
Duke and Duchess of Sussex with teams after volleyball match
The Duchess joined in with the team photo after the match - Kola Sulaimon/AFP via Getty Images

As the impromptu photo opportunity ended, she found herself at the centre of a crowd of women wanting to show their appreciation.

Many were wearing matching dresses made from the same black, white and gold fabric, handing some to the Duchess.

“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.”

When Royalty Ojeh, six, the daughter of the executive director of Nigeria:Unconquered, handed the Duchess some roses, she plucked one out of the bouquet to hand back to the little girl, as she used to do when she carried out engagements as part of the working Royal family.