At a recent event in Lagos, Prince Harry humorously referred to the Nigerian royals present as his “in-laws,” sparking laughter among the audience. His casual remark, however, may hold more weight than initially thought.

While the House of Windsor may have distanced themselves from the Sussexes, in Lagos, wealthy Nigerian rulers vied for Meghan’s favor, offering gifts and titles to claim her as part of their royal families.

However, not all who paid homage were as they seemed.

According to The Mail on Sunday, one of the kings in attendance is a convicted fraudster, twice expelled from the United States. Despite his dubious background, he presented Meghan with gifts and a Yoruba name, “Adetokunbo,” meaning “royalty from across the seas.”

The event, described by a guest as Meghan’s “unofficial crowning,” saw monarchs from different regions of Nigeria honoring the former actress. Nigeria maintains regional monarchies, primarily ceremonial, representing pre-colonial groups.

While some, like the Olu of Warri and the Obi of Onitsha, bestowed titles upon Meghan, others, like the Oluwo of Iwoland, did so despite his tarnished reputation. Akanbi, known as the “Funky King,” faces accusations of fraud and assault, with his ex-wife publicly accusing him of sexual assault.

Despite the glitzy event, the Sussexes may want to tread carefully in forging alliances with Nigerian royalty, given Akanbi’s criminal record and questionable character.

The incident highlights the complexity of navigating royal ties and the importance of thorough vetting, even in seemingly innocuous social gatherings.