Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are heading off on their second high-profile overseas visit of the year after receiving an official invite to visit Colombia from the country's vice president and minister for equality and equity, Francia Márquez.
The couple are no strangers to foreign tours. As working members of the royal family after their marriage in 2018, they traveled to the South Pacific, Morocco, Ireland, and South Africa at the request of the U.K. government, representing Queen Elizabeth II.
After their split from the monarchy in 2020, the couple has taken their private philanthropic work around the world too, attending events across the U.S., the U.K., Germany, the Netherlands and Canada.
In May 2024, the couple undertook their first major tour as non-working royals, having received an invite from Nigeria's chief of defense staff to attend three days of events in the country, many of which were connected with Harry's Invictus Games veterans event.
On August 1, Vice President Francia Márquez of Colombia announced that the country would be the next to host the duke and duchess.
Here, Newsweek looks at everything we know so far about Harry and Meghan's Colombian tour.
When?
No official dates for Harry and Meghan's visit to Colombia have been released and could be subject to change. However, fans could see the couple in the country as soon as this month.
Newsweek approached representatives of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle via email for comment.
Where?
During their visit, Harry and Meghan will tour three of Colombia's most famous cities.
These will see the couple attend events in the capital city of Bogotá and the Caribbean and Pacific regions of Cartagena and Cali.
Why?
Harry and Meghan received their invitation to visit Colombia from the country's vice president who has said she hopes they will "experience the rich heritage" of the nation, and "further illuminate Colombia's role as a beacon of culture and innovation."
Though the couple's itinerary has yet to be released, Márquez has said they will "engage with leaders, youth, and women who embody the aspirations and voices of Colombians," during their stay.
Statement from Vice President of Colombia, Francia Márquez
August 1, 2024
"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.
"Their visit comes at a particularly significant time, as it precedes the first Global Ministerial Conference on Ending Violence Against Children, to be held in Colombia this November. 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. We are confident that their visit will further illuminate Colombia's role as a beacon of culture and innovation."
James Crawford-Smith is Newsweek's royal reporter, based in London. You can find him on X (formerly Twitter) at @jrcrawfordsmith and read his stories on Newsweek's The Royals Facebook page.
Do you have a question about King Charles III and Queen Camilla, William and Kate, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, or their family that you would like our experienced royal correspondents to answer? Email royals@newsweek.com. We'd love to hear from you.
Disclaimer: The copyright of this article belongs to the original author. Reposting this article is solely for the purpose of information dissemination and does not constitute any investment advice. If there is any infringement, please contact us immediately. We will make corrections or deletions as necessary. Thank you.
