Harry and Meghan Travel to Colombia
All about the Sussexes’s third international trip of the year.
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Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, have embarked on their third international trip of the year, a four-day visit to Colombia. The engagements are furthering the Archewell Foundation’s work to encourage online safety and promote healthy digital habits. Watching this visit unfold, it once again feels a bit like a royal tour. To be sure, it’s not an official visit — but it also isn’t a personal trip. This is a new path the Sussexes are forging, taking the considerable media attention they receive and using it to highlight their philanthropic work.
Below, a look at how this visit came to be and what they are doing over these four days, as well as some background on Colombia and the fashion scene there. Keep scrolling for a recap of engagements over the first day and a half, with loads of pictures, too. Over on Instagram, I am weighing in on Meghan’s (fantastic!) fashion. My thoughts will be archived here on Substack — stay tuned.
What do you think of Harry and Meghan’s trip to Colombia? Please share in the comments.
Harry and Meghan Visit Colombia
Why are Harry and Meghan visiting Colombia?
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were invited to Colombia by Francia Márquez, the country’s vice president and minister for equality and equity. “I saw the Netflix series about their life, their story and that moved me,” Márquez told the press ahead of the visit, pointing to the impact Meghan has had. “This is a woman who deserves to come to our country and tell her story and her exchange will undoubtedly be an empowerment to so many women in the world.”
(As an aside: Politico has a fascinating piece on Márquez, Colombia’s first Black vice president. Márquez also reached out to Vice President Kamala Harris in early 2021 to discuss the murder of George Floyd. “As Afro-Colombians and Indigenous peoples,” she wrote, “we suffer the same situation; those who have imposed armed conflict, lethal politics, gender-based violence, structural racism — they keep their knees on our necks.”)
The Sussexes are slated to spend time in three cities — first Bogotá, then Cartagena and Cali — to “explore the rich heritage of Colombia,” according to a statement from the vice president: “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.”