Meghan Markle "played the happy wife" during her three day visit to Nigeria with Prince Harry last year. The 43-year-old former actress visited the African country in May 2024 with her husband, with the couple arriving immediately after Harry's step-brother Tom Parker-Bowles for a trip similar to a royal tour. Speaking exclusively to Express.co.uk , London based Marketing and Events professional Baba-Jallah Epega, who was involved in looking after the couple during their trip spoke glowingly about the Duchess. "She was quite demure. She played the happy wife when I was there. She seemed fine. And Nigerian people loved her coming because she had the Nigerian link with her DNA," he said.

Meghan has previously opened up about discovering her links to the country saying: "I had my genealogy test done a couple of years ago and I am 43 percent Nigerian." Baba-Jallah says her visit brought "a bit of joy" to the people of Nigeria. "It's (Harry and Meghan's visit) something that brought a bit of joy in that time, especially Meghan coming to meet soldiers and invalid soldiers," he said.

"That was the positive side that I saw. There was a tsunami of love (for them).

"It was very short notice. But once the news came out, everyone likes anything to do with the Queen and obviously this was the Queen's grandson, it was very positive."

Asked if the Duke and Duchess could have made such a trip had they still been working royals, Baba-Jallah said he doesn't think it is impossible.

"The protocol is completely different and especially from the UK side. But I don't think it's impossible," he said.

He also revealed their security detail for the trip to Nigeria was exactly the same as that given to visiting VIPs and journalists.

Despite their royal status no extra security measures were taken above those usually put in place for VIP visitors to the country. It was reported at the time Harry and Meghan had their own four-man security team in tow, which they paid for themselves, alongside the security supplied by Nigeria. While there was indeed an impressive security presence it was no different to what was laid on for other important visitors including Harry's step-brother Tom Parker Bowles who visited immediately before the couple.

"When they (royals) come, the security is the same, and discretion is very important. The security is the same for journalists when they come.

"We've had (celebrity chefs). They're all treated the same. When Harry and Megan came...you have to tick the boxes for health and safety etc but you do that for everyone," he said.