Interesting details of the Duchess and Duke of Sussex, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s visit to Colombia have surfaced online. The couple’s itinerary is now in the hands of the media even before their August 15 trip to the South American country kicks off.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry will begin their Colombia tour in Bogotá, the country’s capital. To welcome them to the nation is no other person than the Vice President herself, Francia Márquez. Márquez, alongside her husband, Rafael Yerney Pinillo, will receive the royal couple as soon as they set foot in the country.
Marquez, the first black woman to occupy the country’s Vice Presidential seat, expressed joy at Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s anticipated arrival. On August 1, 2024, Marquez delightfully announced the royal couple’s visit. She also thanked them for accepting her invitation to “visit our beautiful country.”
Notably, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are visiting Colombia to further their charity work through the Archewell Foundation. The couple founded the organization after moving to the United States and stepping down from being working royals.
The Archewell Foundation was created to “identify immediate needs, build meaningful initiatives, and drive long-term change,” the non-profit’s website states. Recently, the foundation has focused on resolving mental health challenges, especially among younger populations.
“Our work is underpinned by the core belief that mental health and our collective wellbeing are paramount,” the website also stated.
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Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s Colombia Tour
Upon their arrival in Bogotá, Meghan Markle, 43, and Prince Harry, 39, will meet with youth groups and several organizations. Thereafter, they will attend an Insight Session at a local school.
Afterward, they will participate alongside experts, activists, and community members in a summit. The summit’s objective is to brainstorm ways to create more positive online environments. The next day, the couple will attend a meeting with students before gracing a luncheon that the Vice President will host.
Thereafter, they will hang out with the participants of the Colombia Invictus Games. Colombia became the first South American nation to participate in the games. Prince Harry launched the game in 2014 for sick and injured, active and retired military service members across the world.
Subsequently, the pair will head to Cartagena and Cali, two notable Colombia cities, for a few other engagements. The couple wouldn’t have a hard time mixing with the Colombian people. Meghan Markle, who speaks Spanish pretty fluently, will particularly have smooth communication with the people.
The Duchess learned the language while she interned at the United States embassy in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Her Spanish-speaking skills came to the fore during a charity visit to Los Angeles, during which she impressed her visitors with her solid command of the language.
Commenting on Markle’s Spanish fluency, Father Greg Boyle of Homeboy Industries, a charity group, said, “She spoke Spanish fluently with one young woman. She just went right into Spanish, which was a revelation—and it was very good.”
The Trip Comes Months After Their Nigerian Visit
The visit to Colombia comes just a few months after their much-talked-about visit to Nigeria. Meghan Markle and Prince Harry visited the West African nation in May 2024 for three days. On their first day, they received a royal welcome with red carpets and cultural displays as they arrived in the capital, Abuja.
They then visited their invitee, Nigeria’s highest-ranking military officer, General Christopher Musa at the nation’s Defense Headquarters. Despite their visit being a private one, their reception was befitting of an official tour.
Meghan Markle proceeded on the visit in defiance of Nigeria’s unfavorable reputation by the UK’s Foreign Office. The office had designated Nigeria as one of the most dangerous countries to visit in the world. Also, their visit was a big morale boost for the most populous black nation.
The couple also took advantage of their first trip to Africa by furthering their mental health advocacy. They kicked off a mental health summit and unveiled a partnership between Archewell Foundation and another body. The collaboration succeeded in providing students with menstrual and school supplies.
ALSO READ: Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Announce Official Visit to Colombia
Why Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s Nigerian Visit Meant So Much To Her
Their visit to Nigeria was a homecoming for Meghan Markle, who is of Nigerian descent. She revealed some years ago, in an interview, that she was 43% Nigerian. The Duchess co-hosted a women’s leadership summit that had 50 influential Nigerian women from multiple sectors in attendance.
During a panel discussion, Meghan Markle spoke about her Nigerian roots. She said she was excited to learn that she had a Nigerian lineage. Before the trip was over, Meghan Markle had received three traditional titles from three Monarchs.
The couple enjoyed joyous receptions everywhere they went. In addition, they received many gifts, including a portrait of young Harry and his late mom.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Are Supporting a New Initiative
Recently, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry spoke about their new charity drive. During an appearance on CBS Sunday Morning, the couple unveiled “The Parents Network.” It is a support initiative for parents whose children have been victims of some negative results of social media use.
These social media issues include cyberbullying, sexual exploitation, anxiety, eating disorders, depression, and social media-related trauma. Coincidentally, the first World Ministerial Conference on the Elimination of Violence Against Children will be held in Colombia in November 2024. Meghan Markle and Prince Harry seem to have planned their visit to the country at the right time.
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