Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Begin Colombia Visit: Day One Highlights

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have arrived in Colombia to commence their official visit. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex received a warm reception from Colombia’s Vice President, Francia Márquez, and her partner, Rafael Yerney Pinillo, shortly after 9 a.m. local time on Thursday, August 15, as confirmed by Us Weekly.

During their time at the vice president’s residence, Harry, 39, and Meghan, 43, indulged in coffee, tea, and traditional Colombian pan de bono, a type of cheese bread. The afternoon included an exchange of gifts with Márquez and Pinillo, demonstrating the cordial nature of their visit. In a heartwarming moment, the Duchess embraced Vice President Márquez, as captured in a photo from the trip.

The couple spent about half an hour with the Vice President. A reporter who attended the meeting reported that Márquez expressed her appreciation for the visit, stating her alignment with the Sussexes on issues concerning a better, safer digital future and improved mental health for children around the world.

Earlier in August, the Sussexes made it known that they had accepted Márquez’s invitation to travel to the South American country.

Márquez noted in her statement, “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.” She expressed that in these dynamic locations, they would have the unique chance to connect with leaders, youth, and women who are committed to social progress in Colombia. Alongside these vital engagements, the royal couple will also experience the rich cultural heritage of the country.

The timing of the visit holds particular significance, as it precedes the first Global Ministerial Conference on Ending Violence Against Children, scheduled to take place in Colombia this coming November.

The Vice President’s statement continued, highlighting the Archewell Foundation, which was founded by Harry and Meghan. It is recognized worldwide for its efforts to establish safer online environments. The upcoming conference aims to present a comprehensive framework designed to foster both virtual and physical safety, addressing pressing issues such as cyberbullying, online exploitation, and the mental health ramifications of these challenges. It will also offer actionable solutions for countries globally. During their time in Colombia, the duke and duchess, along with the Archewell Foundation, are expected to participate in several initiatives centered on this critical topic.

Earlier this year, Harry and Meghan undertook their first official tour of Nigeria, spending three days in May focused on promoting their foundation’s mental health initiatives and the Invictus Games.

The couple reflected on their Nigerian visit, expressing their eagerness to travel more in the future. “There’s only so much one can do from home and over Zoom, so we look forward to traveling more because the work matters,” Harry stated. “Whether it’s for the Archewell Foundation, Invictus, or any of our other causes, there will always be reasons to meet the people at the heart of our work,” he added.

This trip to Colombia occurs during a transformative year for Harry and Meghan, who have multiple Netflix series in development, including one focused on cooking and another regarding professional polo. Additionally, Meghan is working on launching her lifestyle business, American Riviera Orchard, while Harry is celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games.