Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s timing of their Nigeria tour was said to coincide with their latest key hire, as a royal commentator branded the overall trip “very successful”.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex visited Nigeria for three days last month where they met locals, hosted panels and attended various events to promote mental health initiatives for soldiers and empower young people.
Back in April, it was reported that the couple had hired a new UK-based PR guru to help her boost her image in Britain.
Harry and Meghan welcomed two new communications executives to their PR team after former director of Global Communications Miranda Barbot was promoted to the role of vice president of Programs and Media Operations, according to PEOPLE.
In her place, Charlie Gipson and Kyle Boulia have joined as communications executives.
Mr Gipson now serves as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s main point of contact for all UK and European media, while Mr Boulia is the new deputy press secretary and director of Communications for US media. Both executives report to Ashley Hansen, the Sussexes’ global press secretary.
Royal author Gareth Russell claimed the timing of the new hires, as well as the Nigeria tour, was “not a coincidence” and was meticulously planned.
He told GB News: “I don’t think it’s a coincidence that it comes so soon after their well-publicised hiring of two excellent PR executives.
“This is the kind of thing that they should be doing.
“So it does seem to me that this was a very successful tour all things considered, but there are there will always be people who are critical or sceptical of the Sussexes.”
Mr Russell also touched down on the criticism the Sussex couple received for their “unofficial royal tour”.
He said: “One of the reasons why I think it’s being criticised is that it looks like a royal tour in all but name.
“And it seems to be something the Sussexes are doing which they had agreed they wouldn’t try to do once they stepped back.
“That being said, it’s entirely within the rights of the government of any country to invite whichever public figures they want to and to offer them a tour.”
