The ‘Special Thing’ Meghan Markle Will Share with Archie and Lilibet After Africa Trip (Exclusive)

The Duchess of Sussex tells PEOPLE what she’s bringing back for her young children

Speaking to PEOPLE on the three-day tour, the Duchess of Sussex expressed her eagerness to delve deeper into her Nigerian heritage — and to share this newfound knowledge with her children and her mother, Doria Ragland.

“It had so much personal meaning for me,” she says of the couple’s visit to the African country.

On Mother’s Day she found it poignant to be learning more about “my heritage, that I’m able to share with my children,” she says. “That’s such a special thing as a mother to know you can do.”

The Duchess of Sussex previously learned through a genealogy test that she is 43% Nigerian, a revelation that deeply resonated with her as she expressed being in “my country.”

And also to be surrounded by so many incredible mothers in this country and the women that I’ve met, especially at the leadership conference,” she adds, referring to the women’s leadership panel she co-hosted with Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, director-general of the World Trade Organization, on the second day of the trip.

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The ‘Special Thing’ Meghan Markle Will Share with Archie and Lilibet After Africa Trip (Exclusive)
The Duchess of Sussex tells PEOPLE what she’s bringing back for her young children

By Simon Perry Published on May 16, 2024 07:30AM EDT
Prince harry Meghan markle Nigeria 05 12 24
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at State Governor House in Lagos, Nigeria, on May 12, 2024. . PHOTO: KOLA SULAIMON/AFP VIA GETTY
Meghan Markle knows what she wants to share most with her children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, about her journey to Nigeria with Prince Harry.

Speaking to PEOPLE on the three-day tour, the Duchess of Sussex expressed her eagerness to delve deeper into her Nigerian heritage — and to share this newfound knowledge with her children and her mother, Doria Ragland.

“It had so much personal meaning for me,” she says of the couple’s visit to the African country.

On Mother’s Day she found it poignant to be learning more about “my heritage, that I’m able to share with my children,” she says. “That’s such a special thing as a mother to know you can do.”

The Duchess of Sussex previously learned through a genealogy test that she is 43% Nigerian, a revelation that deeply resonated with her as she expressed being in “my country.”
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex speaks at a Women in Leadership event co-hosted with Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala on May 11, 2024 in Abuja, Nigeria.
Meghan Markle speaks at a Women in Leadership event she co-hosted with Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala on May 11, 2024 in Abuja, Nigeria. ANDREW ESIEBO/GETTY
Meghan Markle Reveals the ‘Best Souvenir’ from Nigeria Tour (Exclusive)

“And also to be surrounded by so many incredible mothers in this country and the women that I’ve met, especially at the leadership conference,” she adds, referring to the women’s leadership panel she co-hosted with Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, director-general of the World Trade Organization, on the second day of the trip.

“Dr. Ngozi is such a powerhouse and mentor. All the work I’ve done on women’s and girls’ rights, as a mom, I really feel that here, and how we were able to expand on that,” says the Duchess of Sussex. “It was great.”

Prince Harry and Meghan traveled to Nigeria at the invitation of Nigeria’s chief of defense staff, in a journey significant as their first official international trip since stepping back from their royal roles in 2020. The whirlwind visit championed their Archewell Foundation’s mental health initiatives for young people and Prince Harry’s Invictus Games, which Nigeria participated in for the first time last year.