Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are set to embark on another 'royal-style' tour - this time to Colombia. Their last major overseas trip was to Nigeria in May, where they received a rapturous reception during three days of events. It led many to wonder how the royals, including King Charles and Prince William , would react given their trip had many of the hallmarks of a traditional royal tour.
However, according to one columnist, the royals won't be upset by the Sussexes upcoming jaunt - as they had a very different fear altogether and in fact, those at the palace were more concerned about the couple popping up at the Paris Olympics. According to the Daily Mail's Ephraim Hardcastle column: "Harry and Meghan's trip to Colombia later this year won't upset the King and the Prince of Wales. They feared the Sussex duo might choose a different destination: a headline-stealing jaunt to the Paris Olympics.
"Monarchs and crown princes from across the globe have been in the French capital along with Hollywood royalty. The presence of Harry and Meghan would not have amused Charles or his heir. " During the first week of the Games last week, Princess Anne was in Paris supporting Team GB, where she got to present several British competitors with gold medals.
This week Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh, was in the French capital and was spotted cheering on Team GB's gold-winning women's sprint cyclists at the velodrome. Meanwhile, Harry and Meghan will travel to the Colombian capital Bogota and elsewhere ont their upcoming trip. They are set to fly in later this summer after receiving an invitation from the country's vice-president Francia Márquez, who serves as equality minister.
The trip will take place ahead of the first Global Ministerial Conference on Ending Violence Against Children, which is set to be held in Colombia this November. Vice-president Márquez 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. 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.".
