ROYAL RISK
Harry and Meghan jet off for ‘high-risk promotion tour’ in Colombia despite warnings they’ll be ‘political pawns’
Their schedule will include trips to capital Bogotá and Pacific regions Cartagena and Cali
PRINCE Harry and Meghan Markle have jetted off today for their "high-risk promotion tour" in Colombia despite warnings they'll be "political pawns".
The couple, who are visiting the South American country for the first time, will arrive on Thursday at the invitation of Vice President Francia Márquez.
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The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will participate in several events on Thursday and Friday in the capital Bogotá and then leave for Cartagena and Cali where they are expected to be during the weekend.
But Anna Pasternak, author of American Duchess: The Real Wallis Simpson, branded their trip as "high-risk".
She told the Telegraph: "When you have this quasi-royal status, you're seen internationally as a royal and you're treated as such on tour, but you don't have the protection of the Foreign Office.
"This is a high-risk tour for them. When a country invites you, you've got to wonder 'what's the agenda?'
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"In what way does this fit into the narrative, and how they want to be seen on a global scale?"
The office of the Colombian vice president said they will take part in several events including a forum against cyberbullying.
The events surrounding their visit will kick off on Thursday with a press conference by Márquez.
Colombia's first black vice president is expected to offer more details on the purpose of Harry and Meghan's visit.
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The Sussexes will also be visiting a school in Bogotá where they will interact directly with students who are exploring the digital landscape and its effects on society.
They will also attend a forum on how to promote safe digital environments organised by Colombia's vice presidency in partnership with Harry and Meghan's Archewell Foundation.
Harry & Meghan's aide QUITS after 3 months - so why have 18 of their staff left?
The forum will address the urgent need for responsible technological practices, particularly in the Global South, where the negative impact of technology is disproportionately felt.
Details of the agenda for Saturday and Sunday will be announced later.
Meanwhile the wayward royals were dubbed "political pawns" by a prominent lawyer from Bogotá.
The source told the Mail on Sunday: "I'm sure Meghan and Harry mean well but everyone here is talking about how obviously they are being manipulated.
PIERS MORGAN One word springs to mind when I think of deluded Meghan and Harry 'prancing around' on fake royal tour of Colombia
By Piers Morgan
My all-time favourite theatre review was about a play called: Why?
The critic wrote one word: "Exactly."
I thought of this when I heard that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will embark on a four-day tour of Colombia this Thursday.
They're going at the invitation of the country's first black Vice President, Francia Marquez, who gushed that the renegade royal duo "have the exceptional opportunity to engage with elders, youth and women who embody the aspirations and voices of Colombians . . . and illuminate Colombia's role as a beacon of culture and innovation".
Meghan and Harry aren't real royals these days.
They don't do any actual duties for the institution which conferred their titles on them — they just line their pockets with cash in America by constantly trashing their families, and the monarchy, in the media.
So, what gives them the right to prance around the world pretending to be proper royals, on quasi- official visits?
There are so many things wrong about this.
First, the laughable hypocrisy of them going to one of the world's most dangerous places — both the UK and US government websites warn travellers to Colombia about the elevated risk of terrorism, kidnapping, rape and robbery — after all of Harry's whiny demands for taxpayer-funded royal security when he comes to the UK to "protect his family".
Second, their decision to go and prop up a Colombian government that's been bedevilled by scandal since coming to power.
President Gustavo Petro, a radical socialist who once fought in a rebel guerrilla group, has seen his foreign minister suspended for alleged cor- ruption, his son Nicolas charged with pocketing cash from drug traffickers meant for his father's presidential campaign, and his brother Juan accused of seeking payments from jailed drug dealers in exchange for judicial benefits from the government.
Petro's also faced recent allegations that he cheated on his wife with a transgender TV host.
As for his Vice President, there's been growing public anger over her hypocrisy at being Colombia's minister for equality while simultaneously using luxury helicopters like taxis and spending millions on a new home where she now lives instead of her official residence.
Opposition politician Miguel Polo Polo posted on X: "Francia Marquez is the biggest fraud in our black community.
"She's been in office for two years and has done nothing, only play the victim and travel around in helicopters."
Sound familiar?
But what I'm most annoyed about is the Sussexes' delusion that they can somehow operate as a rival royal family on the global stage, enjoying all the benefits from that regal status but without any need to fulfil their obligations to their King and country.
It's completely unacceptable, and unsustainable, for estranged members of the Royal Family to conduct official trips like this.
The King should strip Meghan and Harry of their titles that they trade off so cynically, and instruct Palace officials to tell heads of foreign governments that they must stop issuing formal tour invitations of this nature to this greedy two-faced pair who want to have their royal cake and eat it.
"Of course their star-power will be used to bring attention to poor people and certain areas of culture in Colombia but the reality is the Colombian government has been drowning in scandal since it came in two years ago.
"They need something to appease people at home and make them look good abroad."
Márquez said of the planned trip: "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.
"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."
Vice President Márquez added she is "confident" the Sussexes' visit will "illuminate Colombia's role as a beacon of culture and innovation".
It comes as royal expert Victoria Murphy alleged there's no clear reason why they are visiting Colombia.
She told The Sun: "They have to have their own reasons to be saying yes to this, and I think it is a little bit baffling in comparison to Nigeria.
"When they went to Nigeria it was very clear that was an Invictus focused trip, I think there was a clear purpose for that trip.
ROBERT JOBSON As Harry & Meghan's chief aide moves on after three months, what has made 18 members of staff dramatically quit?
PRINCE Harry and Meghan Markle are earning a reputation as tough task-masters.
It seems a notable number of their staff have struggled to meet the demands of their roles and have either walked or been pushed — by mutual consent, of course.
The latest departure in their revolving door of aides is chief of staff Josh Kettler, who has stepped down after just three months, citing a mutual agreement that the job was "not the right fit".
The departure of the suave American, who bills himself as an "experienced executive accelerator, organiser and confidant" on his LinkedIn profile, is a little embarrassing for the needy couple as he was lauded on his arrival.
He had been extremely visible during his short tenure, notably spending three days with Harry at an Invictus Games event in Nigeria in May.
His departure also comes just ahead of the couple's planned "royal" tour to Colombia, adding to the challenges they face in managing their public image and charitable endeavours since quitting the royals.
Of course, it is not the first time key staff members have walked away from the Sussexes.
An astonishing 18 members of staff have quit working for them in just a few years — nine since they moved to Montecito, California.
Many of their former Palace staff coined the term "Sussex Survivors' Club" to describe themselves after they quit working for the couple.
Some even believed, only half-jokingly, they suffered a form of post-traumatic stress.
After the latest departure in California, one insider quipped: "Perhaps there should be a Montecito arm of the Sussex Survivors' Club."
This golden couple, who have tried to charm the world with their woke crusade, just do not seem to be able to hang on to staff.
But surely it can't be their fault?
The evidence would suggest otherwise, with departures having come thick and fast.
"And, Meghan had discovered that she was 43 per cent Nigerian so it made sense, and also Harry's long term in African countries, and the charity work he's done on the continent already."
Claiming the tour was "vague", she added: "This just feels slightly random and yes we're talking about themes they're going to focus on, but it's quite vague on exactly how they're going to and why they've chosen Colombia to highlight those themes.
"One of the things is the conference in November, for child safety, which is obviously really important, but I'm still not sure what it has to do with them.
"They're not going to the conference, it would make sense if they were.
"But they're not and I don't think they're going to have any presence at the conference, I don't understand why it's being mentioned in connection with their visit."
It will be Harry and Meghan's second "faux royal tour" after visiting Nigeria in May.
The couple spent three days in the West African country, meeting with locals and leaders.
While there, they unveiled a partnership between their Archewell Foundation and the non-profit Giants of Africa, which aims to empower young people through sport.
The couple soon jetted back to the United States after they watched a charity exhibition match at Lagos Polo Club.
Prior to that, Harry, 39, had enjoyed a game of basketball with a group of Nigerian youngsters.
Meanwhile Harry and Meghan's Chief of Staff, John Kettler, quit his role just days before the trip.
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The senior employee had only been working for the duke and duchess for three months but was present at key events for the couple.
Now insiders have revealed the "real reason" why he threw in the towel ahead of the controversial tour.
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