Prince Harry reportedly left his wife Meghan in Nigerian capital Abuja to visit a military hospital in a region deemed unsafe by the UK government.
The pair are in the west African country this weekend to promote their Invictus Games initiative and the Duchess of Sussex on Friday praised her “smart” husband.
But she was left alone on Saturday when Harry flew 120 miles north to the hospital in Kaduna, which is marked as an area that the foreign office warns against all travel to.
“FCDO advises against all travel to Kaduna State,” the guidance reads.
The foreign office urges caution for all travel to parts of Nigeria due to a risk of kidnapping, crime and violence - with northern states thought to be especially at risk. Bandits abducted 2,000 people in 2020 within Kaduna.
At the hospital, Harry met Nigerian soldiers who suffered injuries in fighting against terrorist group Boko Haram. Many were victims of ambushes or bomb blasts.
The Sun reported that Harry was flanked by an armed four-strong security detail at all times.
The prince spoke about mental health to children at a school in Abuja on Friday.
Harry said: “There is no shame to be able to acknowledge that today is a bad day or that you woke up this morning feeling sad, that you left school feeling stressed, that you’ve lost a loved one in your family and have no one to turn to or speak to.”
Handing the microphone to the Duchess she said: “Do you see why I married him? He's so smart. And so inspiring because he speaks the truth.”
She told students they were “honoured” to be visiting Nigeria. “We believe in you, we believe in your futures, we believe in your ability to continue to tell your stories and just be honest with each other,” she said from a small stage.
“There is no need to suffer in silence. Just make sure you’re taking care of yourselves and your mental health by really talking about whatever is coming up for you.”
Nigeria sent its first Invictus Games team to the 2023 event in Dusseldorf. The next games will be held in Vancouver next year.
