Duke and Duchess of Sussex are set to embark on a new tour to Colombia – but sources close to the pair have revealed what lies behind the plan
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s new Colombia tour could be the ‘ultimate revenge’ to the royals (Image: PA)
Just four years ago, Harry and Meghan made the shocking announcement that they were stepping away from their royal duties in the UK to start a new life in America.
The couple expressed their desire for “privacy” and “space” to raise their son Archie, but their departure has been marred by a highly publicised feud with the Royal Family.
In a surprising turn of events, the couple recently stepped back into the spotlight to announce plans for a tour of Colombia later this year – a move that has certainly raised eyebrows among royal insiders.
This will mark the couple’s second tour as non-working royals, following their successful three-day visit to Nigeria in May, which was inspired by Meghan’s discovery of her own Nigerian roots.
However, there are concerns that these types of trips do not serve Britain’s interests and could potentially undermine the work of the actual Royal Family. There are also fears that it could exacerbate their ongoing feud with the Firm.
While the full details of their tour remain confidential as they spend quality time with their children, Archie, five, and Lilibet, three, it has been confirmed that Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex will visit Bogota and coastal regions of Colombia, following an official invitation from the country’s vice president and minister for equality and equity, Francia Marquez.
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The trip will be Meghan’s chance to prove that the Royal Family ‘misses her’ (Image: CBS)
Meghan has expressed her desire for them to “experience the rich heritage” of Colombia and to “further illuminate Colombia’s role as a beacon of culture and innovation,” according to OK!.
However, concerns have been raised about the safety of their trip due to the country’s high crime rates, terrorism, civil unrest, and kidnapping. The UK Foreign Office advises against travel to certain parts of Colombia, while the US encourages people to reconsider their travel plans.
Despite these concerns, it is understood that Harry, 39, and Meghan, 43, will be provided with full security protection during their stay. This decision seems peculiar, especially considering Harry’s reluctance to bring Meghan back to the UK due to security issues.
Despite the negative press following the announcement, a source has spoken about the Sussexes’ excitement for the trip. They claim that for Meghan, this is part of a larger plan to change the negative perception of her.
If the tour is successful, it could prove to be the ‘ultimate revenge’ against the Royal Family (Image: PA)
It provides her with an opportunity to shine on a public platform, doing the work she loves. “Meghan sees this Columbia tour as her chance to prove to the world what a big star she is and how much the Royal Family misses her,” the source said.
“She knows how much she can turn it on and doing events like this was the one thing about royal life that appealed to her. She was furious when that was taken away because she knows she’s such an asset.”
“She feels her and Harry together really shine when meeting dignitaries and locals, and it helps with the brand and their plan to be the alternative Royal Family. Meghan knows that nobody in the Royal Family can put on a show like her and Harry,” the insider revealed.
“When they left, they asked that they could still represent the family on tours but were told no, so she feels it’s the ultimate revenge as they were both so upset when they were rejected,” the insider believes.
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Life in the spotlight is where Meghan typically excels thanks to her acting background (Image: PA)
Amid recent tribulations for the royals, including the loss of prominent figures King Charles and the Princess of Wales due to cancer treatments, the Sussexes appear to have stepped into the breach, with their tour poised to grab headlines once more.
The buzz could intensify if the Sussexes opt to bring their children along, which is a strong possibility.
The Duke and Duchess are set to embark on a significant tour of Colombia, with their agenda including discussions with “leaders, youth, and women”, alongside participating in discussions regarding “cyberbullying, online exploitation and the mental health impacts of these threats,” issues that The Archewell Foundation, spearheaded by the couple, passionately addresses.
Their Royal Highnesses’ Colombian itinerary is just one aspect of their whirlwind schedule. Meghan, in particular, is on the cusp of unveiling her dream enterprise, American Riviera Orchard a brand offering various home and lifestyle products which dovetails with a Netflix documentary speculated to complement the brand’s initiation.
Meghan is keen to end the year with ‘positivity’ claims one insider (Image: CBS)
Adding to their flurry of activities, Meghan and Harry made a notable return to television on CBS for their first joint interview in over three years, seizing the moment to announce The Parents Network. This initiative is designed to aid parents in combating the negative consequences of social media upon children.
In a heart-to-heart conversation with Jane Pauley, Meghan revealed her deeply personal challenges with mental health, confessing, “I think when you’ve been through any level of pain or trauma,” and admitting, “I believe part of our healing journey, certainly part of mine, is being able to be really open about it.”
She reflected further, stating: “And I haven’t really scraped the surface on my experience but I do think that I would never want someone else to feel that way.”
Following a challenging period since stepping down from Royal duties, facing tribulations in establishing themselves stateside and combating an onslaught of adverse media scrutiny, Meghan is keen to turn the page. This tour presents an opportunity for her to conclude the year with positivity.
“At the moment, the Royal Family is lacking representatives and she knows they’ll all be watching on to see how they handle it and what reception they get. Meghan wants to be seen as so much more than a Hollywood celebrity – and feels doing tours elevates her,” believes the insider.