He’s better known for speaking the Queen’s English but the Prince of Wales turned to pidgin when he visited Nigeria’s commercial capital, Lagos, on Thursday.

“How you dey? (How are you?)” he asked assembled dignitaries, including former heads of state, presidential candidates, leading politicians and stars from the world of fashion, music and the arts.

Queen Elizabeth II’s eldest son and heir, who turns 70 this month, and winds up a tour of The Gambia, Ghana and Nigeria, today, said he was pleased to be back in “Lasgidi” (Lagos).

“I find it hard to believe that nearly 30 years have passed since I first came to this city.

“As they say, ‘God don butta my bread’ (God has blessed me),” he said, praising the city for its dynamism and energy; the royal added in a speech at the British Deputy High Commissioner’s residence.

Lagos, home to more than 20 million people and driver of the economy of Africa’s most populous nation, is a hub of innovation and industry.

Charles, whose Prince’s Trust has helped launch the careers of hundreds of thousands of young entrepreneurs, said both shared the same spirit of imagination and ingenuity.

“If life dey show you pepper, make pepper soup,” he said, which roughly translates to “life is what you make it.”

The day before, the British royal was in the Federal Capital Territory, where he met with President Muhammadu Buhari and first class royal fathers.

Images from Prince Charles & Duchess Camilla’s visit to Lagos and Abuja