In a move reminiscent of their royal days, Prince Harry and Meghan have embarked on an eventful tour of Colombia, celebrating their presence in style.
The duo, who stepped back from working royal duties in 2020, touched down in the capital Bogota earlier today and were seen attending a breakfast meeting with Vice President Francia Marquez and her husband, Rafael Yerney Pinillo.
For the occasion, Meghan cut a graceful figure in a £598 Orlinda cardigan by fashion guru Veronica Beard, paired with Harry’s choice of a crisply tailored navy suit. During their tour, Harry was seen draping a protective arm over Meghan’s shoulders as he shared a tender moment.
As they exited a building to warm applause from onlookers, a lip reader revealed a candid interaction between the Sussexes. Skilled lip reader Nicola Hickling discreetly interpreted Meghan as commanding her consort to “hand,” to which he promptly replied: “Here you go.”
The busy day continued with a visit to Colegio Cultura Popular, a children's school in Bogota. There they were treated to a guided tour and briefed by the school's director, Leonel Umana Parra, and a student from the educational institution, Jose David, reports the mirror.
At school, Harry actively engaged with bystanders, tried counting in Spanish and gave glimpses of his family life. He admitted to the assembly, as decoded by Mrs. Hickling, that his young children, Archie and Lilibet, have not yet been exposed to the world of social media.
Meghan and Harry have been invited to Colombia by Vice President Marquez, where they have a busy schedule that includes meeting with leaders and discussing concerns about cyberbullying. They will also attend a summit with experts, activists and community members who are working to create more positive online environments.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will remain in Bogota on Friday to talk to students about emotional wellbeing in education. They will attend a lunch hosted by Vice President Marquez before meeting Colombian competitors in the Invictus Games.
Colombia was the first South American country to participate in Prince Harry's sporting event for wounded, injured and sick military personnel and veterans, which will take part in the Invictus Games in Düsseldorf in September 2023.
The visit will mark Meghan and Harry's first joint trip to Colombia, which will also see them visit the cities of Cartagena and Cali.
Their trip comes ahead of the first World Ministerial Conference on the Elimination of Violence Against Children, which will take place in Colombia in November. The couple's Archewell Foundation is dedicated to promoting safer digital environments.
Marquez said: “The conference will present a global framework for creating safer physical and virtual spaces, addressing issues such as cyberbullying, online exploitation and the impact of these threats on mental health. It will provide practical solutions and commitments for countries around the world. During their visit, The Duke and Duchess, as well as the Archewell Foundation, will take part in a number of activities related to this important topic.”