Britain's Prince Harry (2ndR), Duke of Sussex, and Britain's Meghan (R), Duchess of Sussex, react as Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu (unseen), gives a speech at the State Governor House in Lagos on May 12, 2024 as they visit Nigeria as part of celebrations of Invictus Games anniversary. (Photo by Kola SULAIMON / AFP)

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were the guests of honor at a reception in Lagos

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Meghan Markle and Prince Harry arrive at the State Governor House in Lagos on May 12, 2024 as they visit Nigeria as part of celebrations of Invictus Games anniversary. . PHOTO: KOLA SULAIMON/AFP VIA GETTY

Meghan Markle chose to wear a meaningful dress for a reception she attended with Prince Harry in Nigeria on Mother’s Day.

For a reception at the State Governor House in Lagos on May 12, the Duchess of Sussex, 42, wore the same yellow flowing dress that she wore for Prince Archie’s first birthday in 2020, as seen in images from the couple’s Netflix docuseries. Archie celebrated his fifth birthday on May 6, and the family marked the occasion privately before Meghan and Harry’s journey.

The event, attended by PEOPLE, was hosted by the Governor of Lagos, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, along with Nigeria’s Chief of Defense Staff, General Christopher Gwabin Musa OFR, who invited the couple to visit the country, Upon their arrival, Meghan received a shawl as a gift from the governor’s wife.

During the visit to the governor’s residence, they discussed mental health, the Invictus Games and their visit to the country.

Harry & Meghan Netflix Documentary
Meghan Markle, Prince Harry and Doria Ragland celebrate Prince Archie’s first birthday. NETFLIX

“For Prince Harry, this trip to the country has been very interesting and informative,” Sanwo-Olu said. “He has seen a lot and is still soaking in a great deal. One of the things we hope he will take away is the diversity and the extent of how vast our country is, and how we continue to ensure that we live together in peace and harmony.”

Governor Sanwo-Olu said he had extended an invitation for them to return. “We are happy for what they are doing for military personnel and mental health issues,” and he talked about galvanizing support to ensure that “people who require the support, both in the military and private sectors, can seek it. The denial, the stigmatization, is one of the things that we talked about.”

They also discussed the Invictus Games, and at what point we “can have it here – so the true Nigerian competitiveness can also be reflected in that way. On behalf of all of us in Lagos, we are excited, we are happy to have you with us this afternoon,” Sanwo-Olu said.

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Meghan Markle and Prince Harry attend reception in Lagos on May 12, 2024. KOLA SULAIMON/AFP VIA GETTY

Ending their journey in Lagos held special significance as it mirrored a historic visit by Prince Harry’s parents, King Charles and Princess Diana, on an official state visit in 1990.

During their official trip — their first to the African nation — the couple advocated for mental health awareness and promoted Prince Harry’s Invictus Games, which Nigeria took part in for the first time last year. Harry’s involvement underscored the significant role of sports in uniting and healing veterans and their families.

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Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex attend reception in Lagos on May 12, 2024. KOLA SULAIMON/AFP VIA GETTY

The visit also celebrates Meghan’s recent discovery that she is of Nigerian heritage. In 2022, she learned she is 43% Nigerian after taking a genealogy test.

On their first outing at Lightway Academy in Abuja on the first day, Meghan spoke from the heart to schoolchildren during the GEANCO Foundation’s inaugural mental health summit when she said, “I see myself in all of you.”

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Nigeria Chief of Defense Staff Christopher Musa (L), his wife Lilian Musa (2ndL), Lagos State Governor wife, Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu (3rdL), Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu (3ndR), Britain’s Prince Harry (2ndR), Duke of Sussex, and Britain’s Meghan (R), Duchess of Sussex, pose for a photo at the State Governor House in Lagos on May 12, 2024. KOLA SULAIMON/AFP VIA GETTY

Speaking on a panel about women leadership on May 11, Meghan said: “I am very overwhelmed. So I want to start by saying thank you very much for just how gracious you’ve all been in welcoming my husband and I to this country…my country.”

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