Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will visit Colombia for a tour later this year where they will ‘engage with leaders, youth and women’, it was confirmed today.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will head to South America on an undisclosed date after accepting an invitation from the country’s vice president Francia Márquez.
Harry and Meghan will also ‘engage in several activities’ related to ‘cyberbullying, online exploitation and the mental health impacts of these threats’.
Ms Márquez’s office said the couple would ‘experience the rich heritage of Colombia’ and help ‘illuminate Colombia’s role as a beacon of culture and innovation’.
She added that the visit would precede the first Global Ministerial Conference on Ending Violence Against Children, which will be in Colombia this November.
Prince Harry and Meghan at the 2024 ESPY Awards at Dolby Theatre in Hollywood on July 11
Colombia’s vice president Francia Márquez at the Festival Of Culture in New Orleans on July 6
Ms Márquez said: ‘As the vice president of Colombia and minister of equality and equity, I am pleased to announce that Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, have kindly accepted my invitation to visit our beautiful country.
‘During their trip, the Duke and Duchess will join me in visiting Bogotá, as well as the Caribbean and Pacific regions of Cartagena and Cali.
‘In these vibrant locations, 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.’
She added that the visit would come at a ‘particularly significant time’ given that it precedes the Ending Violence Against Children conference.
Continuing, Ms Márquez said: ‘The Archewell Foundation, founded by the Duke and Duchess, is renowned for its global leadership in fostering a safer online environment.
Harry and Meghan at the State Governor House in Lagos on May 12 during their tour of Nigeria
Meghan receives flowers from a girl on arrival for a sitting volleyball match in Abuja on May 11
‘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. 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.’
The UK and US governments have both issued security alerts over travelling to Colombia.
The UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office states that it ‘advises against all but essential travel to parts of Colombia’.
And the US Department of State issued a travel advisory in January stating: ‘Reconsider travel due to crime and terrorism. Exercise increased caution due to civil unrest and kidnapping. Some areas have increased risk.’
Harry and Meghan visit the Lightway Academy in Abuja on May 10 during their Nigeria tour
The announcement today comes after Harry and Meghan went on a three-day visit to Nigeria in May on the invitation of the chief of defence staff.
The couple visited a school, met injured service members at a military hospital and attended training sessions for charity organisation which work with the Invictus Games.
They also went to a reception where military families were honoured, and Meghan to co-hosted an event of Women in Leadership with Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the director-general of the World Trade Organisation.
The couple’s other engagements included a basketball camp with Giants of Africa, a cultural reception and a polo fundraiser for Nigeria: Unconquered.
It comes after friends of Harry claimed King Charles III is no longer answering his estranged son’s calls or responding to his letters as their rift deepens.
Harry and Meghan will visit Bogata (pictured) as part of their tour of Colombia later this year
The UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office states that it ‘advises against all but essential travel to parts of Colombia’. The areas affected are those shaded in orange in the above map
The Duke and Charles last saw each other in person in February when they met for 45 minutes in London following the monarch’s cancer diagnosis.
But sources close to Harry said their communication has worsened since amid growing tensions over the Duke’s battle for his security when in Britain.
The Duke of Sussex is said to be ‘frightened’ about the safety of his wife Meghan Markle and children Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet – and believes the King has the power to intervene in his ongoing court case with the Home Office .
Sources told US magazine People that the issue of security began as a point of frustration between father and son but has now developed into ‘complete silence’.
A friend of Harry’s said: ‘He gets ‘unavailable right now’. His calls go unanswered. He has tried to reach out about the King’s health, but those calls go unanswered too.’
The full statement from Colombia’s vice president Francia Márquez confirming the visit
Decisions over the Duke’s security are made independently of the King by the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (Ravec), which is part of the Home Office.
Harry last visited the UK in May to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games, but could not meet his father during this recent trip. The Duke’s spokesman said at the time that this was due to the King’s ‘full programme’.
The magazine also quoted sources claiming Meghan wishes Harry ‘could let go of these lawsuits’ over their security because she wants the Duke to be ‘free’ and ‘live in the moment’.
The report quoted a former employee of the Archewell Foundation, who said: ‘[Meghan] wants him to be free of all of this, but she also knows that because of everything he’s been through and his love for [her and their children], he can’t. She wants him to live in a world where he is not burdened by this.’
