Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have again chosen to visit one of the world’s most dangerous countries, a British former royal protection officer said today.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will head to Colombia on an undisclosed date later this year despite both the UK and US governments issuing travel alerts for the crime-ridden country amid fears over the risk of terrorism, civil unrest and kidnapping.
And the Sussexes’ decision to accept an invitation to visit from the country’s vice president Francia Márquez comes amid Harry’s ongoing security battle in the UK.
One British former royal protection officer, who served Harry’s family for several years, told MailOnline: ‘They have chosen to visit one, if not the most, dangerous countries in the world. But nothing amazes me [with Harry and Meghan] these days.’
The UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office ‘advises against all but essential travel to parts of Colombia’. And the US Department of State issued a travel advisory for Colombia stating: ‘Reconsider travel due to crime and terrorism. Exercise increased caution due to civil unrest and kidnapping. Some areas have increased risk.’
MailOnline understands the Duke and Duchess will be provided full security detail for the entirety of their visit alongside Ms Márquez.
It comes after they took a four-person security team to Nigeria for their tour in May amid concerns over the risk of violence, terrorism and kidnapping in the country.
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Prince Harry and Meghan at the 2024 ESPY Awards at Dolby Theatre in Hollywood on July 11
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Colombia’s vice president Francia Márquez at the Festival Of Culture in New Orleans on July 6
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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
In Colombia, the Sussexes will ‘engage with leaders, youth and women’ and join 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.
It comes after Harry – who now lives in Montecito, California – lost his High Court challenge in London in February against the UK Government over his right to state-funded police protection when visiting Britain.
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Demonstrators clash with riot police during a protest against a tax reform bill in Bogota in 2021
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Protesters clash with riot police during demonstrations against tax reform in May 2021
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Protests against the Colombian government in the Madrid municipality near Bogota in 2021
He had told a judge that he did not feel able to bring his children Archie, five, and Lilibet, three, to the UK and could not put Meghan ‘in danger like that’.
Harry was then given permission in May to go to the Court of Appeal over the decision made in 2020 by the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (Ravec), which is part of the Home Office.
Confirming their visit today, 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.
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Harry and Meghan will visit Bogota (pictured) as part of their tour of Colombia later this year
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The UK’s Foreign Office ‘advises against all but essential travel to parts of Colombia’
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The US Department of State says of Colombia: ‘Reconsider travel due to crime and terrorism. Exercise increased caution due to civil unrest and kidnapping. Some areas have increased risk’
‘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.
‘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.
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The full statement from Colombia’s vice president Francia Márquez confirming the visit
‘We are confident that their visit will further illuminate Colombia’s role as a beacon of culture and innovation.’
Around the same time as the Colombia announcement, CBS released a clip of an upcoming interview with Harry and Meghan, with the Duke saying parents have to be ‘first responders’.
The Prince went onto say that ‘terrifyingly’ many parents do not know to ‘tell the signs of possible suicide’.
The full interview with appear on the US channel’s Sunday Morning show – three years on from their bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey on the same network.
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.’
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Also today, CBS released a clip of Harry and Meghan in an interview about children and the online world, which will be broadcast on the US channel’s Sunday Morning show
THIS SUNDAY: The Duke and Duchess of Sussex talk with Jane Pauley this Sunday about a new program supporting parents of children affected by online harm. Jane also interviews parents in the pilot program about its impact on their healing. pic.twitter.com/YNRMA86I65
— CBS Sunday Morning 🌞 (@CBSSunday) August 1, 2024
Presenter Jane Pauley said: ‘Well you hope that when your children ask for help, someone is there to give it.’ Harry then added: ‘If you know how to help’. And Pauley said: ‘Thank you.’
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Harry continued: ‘At this point we’ve got to the stage where almost every parent needs to be a first responder. And even the best first responders in the world wouldn’t be able to tell the signs of possible suicide. That is the terrifying piece of this.’
In May, Harry and Meghan went on a three-day visit to Nigeria on the invitation of the country’s 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.
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View galleryHarry and Meghan at the State Governor House in Lagos on May 12 during their tour of Nigeria
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View galleryMeghan receives flowers from a girl on arrival for a sitting volleyball match in Abuja on May 11
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.
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’.
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Harry and Meghan visit the Lightway Academy in Abuja on May 10 during their Nigeria tour
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.’
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 People 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.’
