Meghan and Harry’s ‘private’ Nigeria tour: Sussexes will arrive in African nation tomorrow morning before carrying out visit to military HQ during three-day trip that will also include stop in Lagos

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will begin their tour to Nigeria tomorrow as they visit the country’s military headquarters and promote the Invictus Games.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are set to arrive in the morning before their first engagement which will be a visit to the Nigerian Defence Headquarters in Abuja.

Meghan and Harry’s ‘private’ Nigeria tour: Sussexes will arrive in African nation tomorrow morning before carrying out visit to military HQ during three-day trip that will also include stop in Lagos.

Officials in Nigeria said the couple’s trip will be in a ‘private’ capacity and run until Monday, also including a visit to Lagos. They are expected to meet Invictus Games competitors, visit a rehabilitative sports centre and hold photocalls with soldiers.

Meghan will endure a gruelling flight from Los Angeles to Lagos or Abuja as she is reunited with her husband Harry in the coming hours for their three-day visit.

The Duchess has six main options if flying on a commercial plane from Los Angeles International Airport to Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos today.

These involve a change at Washington DC, Atlanta, Paris, Istanbul, Doha or even London – where she could meet up with Harry before flying onto Nigeria. Harry is said to be flying to Nigeria alone to join her in the country, but this is unconfirmed.

The Duke has been in London since Tuesday where he has attended various events relating to the competition, including a service at St Paul’s Cathedral yesterday.

It is thought that Harry will travel to Nigeria today, with Meghan expected to be making her own way there from California. How the Duchess gets there is also unknown – with a variety of long and complicated routes available to choose from.

The quickest flight time is via Washington Dulles Airport with United Airlines which takes 17 hours and 35 minutes including a change of two hours and 10 minutes. An economy single costs £1,651. Premium economy is £3,971 while business is £4,805.
The next fastest option is with Delta Airlines via Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Airport, which takes 17 hours and 45 minutes with a stop lasting two hours and 20 minutes. Economy seats cost £1,577, while a space in the premium Delta One area is £4,826.

The cheapest option for the route is with Qatar Airways via Hamad Airport in Doha at just £617 for an economy seat, but this would be a mammoth journey taking 32 hours and 40 minutes with a stop lasting eight hours and 45 minutes.

Another cheaper option is with Turkish Airlines via Istanbul which would take 21 hours and 35 minutes with a stop lasting 85 minutes, costing £825 in economy.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are set to arrive in the morning before their first engagement which will be a visit to the Nigerian Defence Headquarters in Abuja.

Officials in Nigeria said the couple’s trip will be in a ‘private’ capacity and run until Monday, also including a visit to Lagos. They are expected to meet Invictus Games competitors, visit a rehabilitative sports centre and hold photocalls with soldiers.

The Duke has been in London since Tuesday where he has attended various events relating to the competition, including a service at St Paul’s Cathedral yesterday.

It is thought that Harry will travel to Nigeria today, with Meghan expected to be making her own way there from California. How the Duchess gets there is also unknown – with a variety of long and complicated routes available to choose from.

The quickest flight time is via Washington Dulles Airport with United Airlines which takes 17 hours and 35 minutes including a change of two hours and 10 minutes. An economy single costs £1,651. Premium economy is £3,971 while business is £4,805.

Six commercial flight options from Los Angeles to Lagos
United Airlines, via Washington DC – 17h35m (with 2h10m stop) – £1,651
Delta Airlines, via Atlanta – 17h45m (with 2h20m stop) – £1,577
Air France/Delta Airlines, via Paris – 19h10m (with 3h15m stop) – £1,574
American Airlines/British Airways, via London – 19h50m (with 2h50m stop) – £3,297.

Turkish Airlines, via Istanbul – 21h35m (with 1h25m stop) – £825
Qatar Airways, via Doha – 32h40m (with 8h45m stop) – £617
Prices checked for economy seats on Google Flights on May 9. Shortest total duration for each option is listed.

The next fastest option is with Delta Airlines via Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Airport, which takes 17 hours and 45 minutes with a stop lasting two hours and 20 minutes. Economy seats cost £1,577, while a space in the premium Delta One area is £4,826.

The cheapest option for the route is with Qatar Airways via Hamad Airport in Doha at just £617 for an economy seat, but this would be a mammoth journey taking 32 hours and 40 minutes with a stop lasting eight hours and 45 minutes.

Other options include flying with Air France and Delta Airlines via Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, which takes 19 hours and ten minutes with a stop lasting three hours and 15 minutes. Tickets are £1,574 in economy.

And if Meghan wanted to be reunited with Harry in London before flying onto Lagos, she could take an American Airlines flight to Heathrow , then change onto a British Airways flight to Nigeria.

This would take 19 hours and 50 minutes with a stop lasting two hours and 50 minutes, and the cost in premium economy would be £3,297. No economy tickets are available, but first-class singles are on sale for £12,677.

Aside from commercial options, Meghan could also look at hiring a private jet – with the cheapest option offered by PrivateFly being a turboprop aircraft from £96,260.

A light jet for the route starts at an estimated £113,870, while a midsize jet is £147,180, a heavy jet is £232,240 and an airliner from £353,670.

However Meghan could of course call on some of her celebrity friends to lend them their jet – while there is also a chance that their flights could be paid for by Nigeria, although this is unknown.

When in Nigeria, the Sussexes will watch a volleyball game and visit military hospitals and charities in Abuja and Lagos, and meet injured armed forces personnel as well as their families.

Their trip is in a private capacity and not an official visit on behalf of the UK Government, given that they stepped down as working royals in early 2020.

The Defence HQ revealed their itinerary in a press conference today, and said that while some of the meetings will be private, the couple will do a photocall after.

The department said Meghan was looking forward to visiting Nigeria to ‘explore her Nigerian ancestry’.