Prince Harry and Meghan Markle spent three days in Nigeria to promote the Invictus Games, with the Duchess of Sussex sending a message to the Royal Family with her outfits

Meghan Markle sent a message to the Royal Family that she “is her own woman” during her tour of Nigeria with Prince Harry, according to a royal expert.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have just returned to Los Angeles following a whirlwind 72-hour tour of the African country to promote the Invictus Games. Meghan pulled out all the stops on the trip, spending almost £120,000 on jewellery and new clothes to make sure she looked her best.

Meghan wore a number of high-end brands, including Carolina Herrera, Altuzarra, and Johanna Ortiz. She made headlines on the first day when she stepped out weaning a backless pink dress called The Windsor. Royal author Tom Quinn believes the choice was a deliberate snub to the Royal Family.

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Meghan Markle wore a backless peach dress known as The Windsor (Image: AFP via Getty Images)

Speaking exclusively to The Mirror, he said: “The Nigerian trip had a few other surprises – Meghan was definitely showing the royals back in the UK that she is her own woman and will even dress as she pleases. So not for her the restrained dresses that a working Royal such as Kate would wear.

“Instead, Meghan proudly displayed a backless dress and as a final and very carefully calibrated snub to the royal family she wore a very expensive designer dress called The Windsor!” The dress cost £450 from designer Heidi Merrick.

Meghan accessorised her look with vintage gold earrings, a gold necklace from AURate worth £1,453.20 and a dainty ring from Lorraine Schwartz which retails at £50,000. The Duchess of Sussex also made sure to pay tribute to the late Princess Diana while in Nigeria.

The cross necklace once belonged to Princess Diana (Image: AFP via Getty Images)

On the second day, Meghan wore her mother-in-law’s diamond cross necklace. Tom said: “Whenever they can, Meghan and Harry refer to Harry‘s mother, the late Diana Princess of Wales.

“Meghan sees Diana very much as her role model and she and Harry know that any mention of Diana deepens their claim to be royal in some quarters.” He also suggested Meghan’s subtle link to the Royal Family will have been done in an effort to boost her image.

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The expert said: “Research in the US has revealed that interest in Harry and Meghan has nose-dived so Meghan and Harry will be hoping that the Nigeria trip will help reverse that trend. Meghan may have started her new Internet brand, but even she will realise it’s small beer compared to being a globetrotting Royal.

“On the other hand, Meghan will be hoping no doubt that the Nigeria trip will boost traffic to her Internet brand. The one thing Meghan dreads and fears is that her business ventures will fail and she will be forgotten.”