Here is why Meghan Markle Inherited most of Princess Diana’s Necklace including $45m worth gold

Meghan Markle found a special way to honor Princess Diana during her trip to Nigeria.

The Duchess of Sussex, 42, wore a sentimental necklace that belonged to Prince Harry’s mother to a reception for military families in Abuja on May 11.

PEOPLE exclusively reveals that the necklace, featuring a delicate diamond cross on a gold chain, was a recent gift from Harry to his wife and once belonged to Princess Diana.

Meghan often pays tribute to Harry’s mother through fashion, and has several pieces in her jewelry box that belonged to the late Princess of Wales, including butterfly earrings and an aquamarine ring. Prince Harry, 39, also famously included two diamonds from his mother’s personal collection in the tri-stone engagement ring he designed for Meghan when he proposed in 2017.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex follow in the footsteps of Harry’s parents, King Charles and Princess Diana, who visited Nigeria for an official visit in March 1990. Meghan may have subtly paid tribute to Diana during the first day of their trip on May 10 by wearing a gold collar necklace reminiscent of one Diana wore during her time in Nigeria over 30 years ago.

On May 11, Meghan wore the cross necklace with a St. Agni white strapless column linen dress and her hair swept up, allowing the accessory to shine. She received a warm welcome at the reception held at the Defense Headquarters Officers Mess, where an official acknowledged Meghan’s Nigerian heritage in their address.

“Princess Meghan is a Nigerian!” Abike Dabiri Erewa, chairman of the Nigerian Diaspora, said at the event. The exclamation won a round of applause from the crowd, plus a smile and applause from Meghan herself. The Duchess of Sussex previously shared on her podcast Archetypes that she discovered she is 43% Nigerian through a genealogy test. Throughout the trip, she spoke of the connection she feels to the country.

The chairman went on to say that she was “excited but not surprised” when Meghan shared the news about her Nigerian heritage, “because she is beautiful, intelligent, diligent and hardworking and she stands firm in the midst of challenges.”

“Prince Harry, you married the best — our daughter, our friend, Princess Meghan,” she said. “I hope you come back again, again and again.”