It has been revealed that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will visit Colombia after being invited to the country by its vice president – and the reason for the four-day trip has been revealed
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s reason for an upcoming ‘royal-style’ tour to a crime-ridden location has been revealed.
It has been announced that the couple will take part in a four-day trip to Colombia, where they will travel to the capital Bogota and elsewhere with hopes of a repeat of the rapturous reception on the couple’s state visit-like tour of Nigeria in May.
The pair will fly in at the invitation of vice-president Francia Márquez, who serves as equality minister. Speaking about the Colombia trip, a source told the Mirror: “Harry and Meghan will carry out a series of engagements aligned to the work of their Foundation and lifelong philanthropic endeavours.
“The visit is part of their ongoing commitment to global philanthropy, building on their previous work in various countries and continuing their efforts to make a positive impact worldwide.” The couple have also formed a relationship with Colombia, which is the only country in Latin America to have participated in the Invictus Games, which Harry founded.
The jaunt will take place this summer, ahead of the first Global Ministerial Conference on Ending Violence Against Children, which is set to be held in Colombia this November. Ms Marques, the vice president, said: “They will have the exceptional opportunity to engage with leaders, youth, and women who embody the aspirations and voices of Colombians committed to progress. In addition to these meaningful interactions, The Duke and Duchess will experience the rich heritage of Colombia.
“The Archewell Foundation, founded by The Duke and Duchess, is renowned for its global leadership in fostering a safer online environment. The forthcoming conference will unveil a comprehensive framework for creating safer physical and digital spaces, tackling issues such as cyberbullying, online exploitation, and the mental health impacts of these threats. It will offer actionable solutions and commitments for countries around the world.”
The trip, which will be covered by one reporter, as well as official photographers and videographers chosen by the couple, is likely to see them guarded by heavy security. It follows the success of their three-day tour of Nigeria earlier this year, when Harry, 39, and Meghan, 42, were left thrilled by the reception and coverage they received.
The tour was revealed yesterday, as it was announced Harry and Meghan have filmed a sit-down interview with US TV show CBS Sunday Morning. The Duke and Duchess have spoken to 73-year-old TV icon Jane Pauley about their new initiative centred around kids and social media, which will launch next week.
The interview will air this coming Sunday, on what is Meghan’s 43rd birthday, and will feature the couple talking about a continuation of their work with parents who have lost their children to online bullying and abuse. It will be the Sussexes’ first joint interview since their controversial sit-down interview with Oprah Winfrey in March 2021.
A 40-second clip from the CBS interview was released yesterday, ahead of the full screening this Sunday. In it, the couple spoke about cyber abuse, with the Duke saying parents have to be “first responders” before adding that “terrifyingly” many parents do not know to “tell the signs of possible suicide”.
Speaking about their two children Archie and Lilibet, Meghan said: “Our kids are young, they’re three and five, they’re amazing, but all you want to do as parents is protect them. And so as we can see what’s happening in the online space, we know that there’s a lot of work to be done there and we’re just happy to be able to be a part of change for good.”
