Harry and Meghan break their silence after Archewell ‘scandal’

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are planning more trips to Africa. They thanked Nigeria for their first trip. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex left Nigeria yesterday after a three-day visit. The couple said their time in Nigeria was "unforgettable" in a press release on Sussex.com today. But the Sussexes didn't mention that their Archewell Foundation was listed as "delinquent" by a US charity regulator. Sources say the state didn't process a cheque. Eight press releases have been issued about the couple's trip to Nigeria, which ran from Friday until Sunday. Harry and Meghan flew from Abuja to London Heathrow yesterday and then to Los Angeles to see their children Archie and Lilibet. In a press release about their trip ending, the Sussexes talked about the reception in Lagos and the polo match. The statement said, "Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, ended their trip to Nigeria with a cultural reception in Lagos and a polo match to raise money for Nigeria." Unconquered. The couple attended events about the Invictus Games, which Nigeria wants to host. The Sussexes were also welcomed at the Lagos State Government House, and military officials were met at the Defense Headquarters in Abuja. After their trip, people close to Harry and Meghan said the Archewell Foundation was branded 'delinquent' because state officials did not process a $200 check. The organization was also called "not in good standing" by the California Department of Justice, which oversees charities in the state where the Duke and Duchess live. Sussex sources told MailOnline this morning that the Archewell Foundation's tax filings for 2022 were submitted in total. This was widely reported in the media last December, including by this website. They said the California filing, renewal, and payment were sent and received on time. However, according to the sources, the notice was issued on May 3 because the check had yet to be processed. Until Archewell Foundation officials could confirm the mail had been received, they thought the cheque had been lost. This was the original explanation, but it needed to be corrected. The $200 check was for an annual registration renewal fee. Archewell's most recent revenue was about $2 million, putting it in the $1,000,001 to $5 million range. A source close to the Sussexes confirmed the $200 figure to MailOnline. This comes as Harry and Meghan flew back from a three-day visit to Nigeria. During the trip, the Sussexes announced a partnership between the Archewell Foundation and the Geanco Foundation, a charity in Nigeria that leads surgical missions, promotes maternal health and provides scholarships to young female victims of terrorism. The military invited the couple to Nigeria to attend events related to Harry's Invictus Games. Nigeria wants to host the games in the future. The couple also met with military officials at the Lagos State Government House and the Defence Headquarters in Abuja. Archewell's tax filings show donations fell by $11 million in 2022. The charity received just over $2 million in 2022, down from $13 million in 2021. In 2021, Archewell reported more than $9 million in revenue. By 2022, it had recorded a loss of more than $674,000 due to costs of $2.67 million.