The upcoming trip of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Harry and Meghan, to Colombia is generating a great deal of controversy.
Despite rumors in the UK that the couple has no impact outside of the monarchy, Harry has proven that he can still attract worldwide attention.
This visit to Colombia, organized by the country’s vice president, Francia Marquez, is part of an attempt by the couple to show that they can still go on “quasi-royal” tours without officially belonging to the British royals.
This trip comes just after the Sussexes replicated a state visit-like program in Nigeria, and now they will land in Colombia with the intention of participating in activities that promote youth and gender equality.
However, this trip has not been officially announced, which has generated speculation and controversy on both sides of the Atlantic.
Meghan and Prince Harry’s Chief of Staff Resigns
To make matters worse, his chief of staff, Josh Kettler unexpectedly resigned, which has added fuel to conspiracy theories.
Kettler, who was named as the perfect man to guide Harry through his post-royalty life, left his post just three months after joining the team.
Although the resignation was described as a “mutual decision” after a probationary period, the timing has raised suspicions.
Kettler started in his post just a week before the Sussexes’ official visit to Nigeria in May, he also accompanied Harry on his trip to London to mark the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games.
This is not the first change in Harry and Meghan’s team. In 2023, the Archewell Foundation said goodbye to several senior staff, including producer Ben Browning and Fara Taylor, who led the marketing of their documentary series on Netflix and Meghan’s podcast on Spotify. In addition, earlier this year, Bennett Levine, manager of Archewell Production, also left his position.
Harry and Meghan’s Controversial Colombia Visit
Harry and Meghan have no previous history in Colombia, which has led some to question the royal purpose of this visit.
So far, Prince Harry has focused his philanthropic efforts on Commonwealth countries and wildlife conservation in Africa, which makes his interest in Colombia seem unusual.
Outside of royalty, however, the Sussexes are looking to expand their influence, and this invitation from Francia Marquez offers them an opportunity to do so.
During their stay in Colombia, the couple is scheduled to visit Bogota, Cartagena, and Cali, and meet with local leaders on youth and women’s rights issues.
According to an official statement issued by the Colombian vice-presidency, the Sussexes’ visit could further highlight Colombia as a “beacon of culture and innovation”.
In addition, the visit is expected to contribute to the celebration of the first World Ministerial Conference on the Elimination of Violence against Children, to be held in November.
Despite the seemingly noble intentions, the trip has raised criticism and doubts, especially in the United Kingdom.
The British press has questioned the couple’s safety in Colombia, with some media suggesting that the Sussexes may be being politically manipulated to divert attention from Colombia’s internal problems.
Neither the Colombian presidency’s website nor that of the Archewell Foundation has published a detailed agenda, leading many to speculate about the true purpose of the visit and how media coverage will be handled.