'As Prince Harry and Meghan prepare to touch down in Colombia, many are asking "what is the point" of this non-royal tour'

OPINION – – In a matter of hours the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will arrive in Colombia as they begin a tour that'll look remarkably like those carried out during their time as working royals.Make no mistake though, Prince Harry and Meghan no longer represent the British royal family in an official capacity.Regardless of their status as private citizens, their royal titles and Prince Harry's place as fifth-in-line to the throne will always see the couple linked with the monarchy no matter their movements.READ MORE: Royal charged with assaulting girlfriend breaks silence and apologisesPrince Harry and Meghan's decision to visit the South American country this week has left many royal watchers and media puzzled.When the tour was announced by Colombia's vice-president Francia Márquez last week, the biggest question many wondered was "why, what is the point?"Colombia is not part of the Commonwealth and the Sussexes have no official ties, charity or otherwise, to the country that we know of.However, the visit will tie in with their newly-launched online safety campaign, The Parents' Network, following a pilot program through their Archewell Foundation in 2023.The project is an online "global community" to support "parents whose children have suffered from the harmful effects of social media".In announcing the visit, Márquez praised Archewell as being "renowned for its global leadership in fostering a safer online environment".She also linked the tour to the coming Global Ministerial Conference on Ending Violence Against Children, to be held in Colombia this November.The conference aims to create safer online spaces for children while addressing "cyberbullying, online exploitation, and the mental health impacts of these threats".She added, "during their visit, the Duke and Duchess, as well as the Archewell Foundation, will engage in several activities related to this important topic"."We are confident that their visit will further illuminate Colombia's role as a beacon of culture and innovation."While there is no argument these issues are of great importance and deserve the additional attention a royal family member brings when they lend their weight, Prince Harry and Meghan could have chosen to travel to Colombia during the conference.Their presence, then, would arguably bring a notable boost to the program.There is also the glaring issue of security.Security fearsPrince Harry and Meghan are due to visit the "vibrant locations" of Bogotá, Cartagena and Cali over the next four days.As this is not a a state visit or royal tour, which would be carried out on behalf of the British government, Prince Harry and Meghan will be protected by their own security detail and likely those employed by Colombia's government as they will be travelling with its vice president.In a recent interview with ITV, Prince Harry said fears for his family's safety was "one of the reasons" he would not bring Meghan back to the UK."All it takes is for one lone actor who reads this stuff to act on what they've read," Harry told the documentary Tabloids on Trial."Whether it's a knife or acid, whatever it is, and these are things that are of genuine concern for me."The Australian Government advises travellers to Colombia to "exercise a high degree of caution...due to the threat of violent crime and terrorism".The British Foreign Office warns against travel to several regions of the country, citing a risk of kidnapping by armed groups and ongoing conflicts over cocaine.The US Government urges its citizens to "reconsider travel due to crime and terrorism".Its Bureau of Consular Affairs adds: "Violent crime, such as homicide, assault and armed robbery is widespread. Organised criminal activities such as extortion, robbery and kidnapping, are common in some areas".While Colombia is an attractive place to visit due to its natural beauty and cultural heritage, the risk remains real.Colombia has moved to overhaul its image in recent years, trying to shake off its reputation for kidnapping and violence. A campaign in 2012 declared: "Colombia, the only risk is wanting to stay".Positive PR boostThe vice president said of Harry and Meghan's visit to Bogotá, Cartagena and Cali "they will have the exceptional opportunity to engage with leaders, youth, and women who embody the aspirations and voices of Colombians committed to progress".Cue the colourful photo opportunities at various cultural events and community projects that will be immediately splashed across the world's media owing to Harry and Meghan's immense star power and royal connection.As a result, the visit is expected to be a major image-boosting public relations spectacle for not only Colombia but the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, whose reputations have taken a battering since their royal departure.Their visit to Nigeria in May saw the couple engage in many such happy moments while Meghan also paid tribute to her hosts by wearing local designers, sartorial tributes often employed by royal women on tour.That visit to Nigeria had a special link to Prince Harry's Invictus Games, with Nigeria becoming Africa's first participant in the tournament.Their itinerary in Colombia, which has so far remained under wraps due to security, will likely feature events tied to the Invictus Games too as Colombia is the only South American country to take part.Potential for misstepsThere has been some criticism of the trip for adding nothing to British interests abroad.As the tour is not sanctioned by the British government owing to Harry and Meghan's non-working royal status, they will travel without the advice from UK officials potentially leading to unintended blunders or mistakes in local protocol.When royals embark on tours it is always in conjunction with the British government and they are accompanied by advisers, with input from the ambassador to the destination.Already, there are headlines in South American media highlighting their likely visit to San Basilio de Palenque, a town "founded by runaway slaves that has become a symbol of anti-colonial resistance".There was fierce criticism of the then Duke and Duchess of Cambridge when they visited parts of the Caribbean in 2022, in celebration of the late Queen's Platinum Jubilee.That tour, despite providing many photo-friendly moments, was marred by controversy, protests and calls for an apology from the British crown over its role in the slave trade.One unfortunate moment saw Prince William and Kate photographed shaking hands with Jamaicans through a wire fence.Author Anna Pasternak, who wrote American Duchess: The Real Wallis Simpson, said there were similarities in how the Duke and Duchess of Windsor conducted themselves on their own tours after they had been ousted from Britain.Speaking of one in 1937 she told The Telegraph UK: "They accepted because Edward felt so hurt and angered by the way Wallis had been rejected by the royal family and he desperately wanted her to experience the pomp and ceremony of a royal tour."He wanted Wallis to be addressed as HRH and for people to curtsy to her. I'm not suggesting that Harry wants the pomp and ceremony of a royal tour, but there is a feeling that he'd like [to elevate] Meghan to the status accorded to her."When Prince Harry and Meghan touch down today, they won't be the first British royals to visit Colombia.King Charles, as Prince of Wales, visited in 1974 and again with Camilla in 2014. That tour, along with a visit to Mexico, had the theme of 'peace and reconciliation' following 50 years of armed conflict in the region.Most recently the Duchess of Edinburgh travelled there in 2023 that included a meeting with Márquez.Márquez's own high-profile status could have been a key factor in Harry and Meghan choosing to visit Colombia.She is the first Afro-Colombian elected to her position and has made women's equality, racism and the environment areas of focus, issues which would appeal to Harry and Meghan's social conscious agenda.Prince Harry and Meghan will be travelling with a carefully selected reporter photographer, as they did with their visit to Nigeria instead of the traditional travelling press pack.As royal watchers prepare to follow the couple's movements, it's not hard to imagine King Charles and the Prince of Wales also taking an interest in what Harry and Meghan get up to in Colombia.No matter how much distance is put between the Sussexes and the House of Windsor, Prince Harry and Meghan will forever be linked to the royal family.After all, it's the royal connection that makes them an attractive get for Colombia.Just what country will be next on their non-working royal tour of the world?FOLLOW US ON WHATSAPP HERE: Stay across all the latest in celebrity, lifestyle and opinion via our WhatsApp channel. 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