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Privacy NoticePrince Harry and Meghan Markle have kicked off their much-talked-about four-day tour in Colombia, and it’s already shaping up to be a whirlwind of activity. Touching down in Colombia, the Sussexes were greeted by Vice-President Francia Marquez. Their packed schedule featured a heart warming visit to a local school, a cultural treat with a musical performance at a Bogota arts centre, and a summit focusing on internet safety. With Marquez, who personally extended the invite, by their side, Harry and Meghan will navigate their trip under the watchful eye of a full security team, giving this visit all the trappings of an official royal engagement. This trip, which has all the hallmarks of a traditional royal tour, is the Sussexes’ second major outing of the year after their three-day stint in Nigeria, which came about after an invitation from the nation’s chief of defence staff. And if the first day is anything to go by, there are plenty of headline-grabbing moments to come….
Harry and Meghan with the vice-president and her husband
(Image: (Image: Eric Charbonneau for Archewell.))
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Netflix show ‘prompted visit’ Before the Sussexes embarked on their first Colombian engagement on Thursday, Vice President Marquez took to the stage for a press conference. She shared that their Netflix documentary, where Harry and Meghan opened up about their Royal Family struggles, was what prompted her to extend the invitation. “I saw the Netflix series about their life, their story and that moved me and motivated me to say that this is a woman who deserves to come to our country and tell her story and her exchange will undoubtedly be an empowerment to so many women in the world,” expressed Ms Marquez. The Sussexes’ headline-making six-part Netflix series, which was released just three months after Queen Elizabeth II passed away, revealed the depth of their fractured ties with the Royal family and the events that led to their decision to step back from Royal duties. The couple’s tour has been marked as a “very special visit” according to Ms Marquez, who emphasized their commitment to unite against cyber-bullying and online violence. They also aim to champion women’s leadership in Colombia. Little known Princess Diana fact Intriguingly, a lesser-known detail involving Princess Diana came to light at the press conference: Harry’s beloved mother had made plans to travel to Colombia just before her untimely death in 1997. In his many public engagements, Harry often invokes the memory of his mother, and on this occasion, the vice president remarked: “I think that Prince Harry being here today after that dream of his mum’s of visiting this country is an opportunity to show the best of our nation, to show who Colombians are. We are people who in the midst of adversities do everything possible to give the best of ourselves.”
Prince Harry waves to the crowds in Bogota
(Image: (Image: AFP via Getty Images))
Harry ‘regret’ amid security arrangements Amid these heartwarming tributes, Prince Harry’s stopover in Colombia takes place against the backdrop of increased security measures. This follows his legal dispute in the UK over his right to police protection when he visits. The Duke and Duchess’s engagement at Colegio Cultura Popular in Bogota proceeded under tight security. Heavily armed soldiers were spotted securing the area, joined by armed police, motorbike officers, and suited security personnel. Body language expert Judi analysed snaps of the couple arriving in Colombia, suggesting that Harry’s expression showed a sense of hesitation, hinting at complex feelings about the trip, reports The Express. “Harry walks ahead in less of a performative mode,” she observed. “He forms a polite smile but his expression is a little more tempered and complex. His eye expression looks almost wary which could be natural given that he is a Royal without the kind of protocols and even safety nets the Firm will have when they are on proper Royal tours.” Meghan’s glamorous tour wardrobe
Meghan wore a stunning dress by a Colombian designer
(Image: (Image: CARLOS ORTEGA/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock))
The Duchess of Sussex displayed several unique looks, including a stylish navy ‘summer suit’ by one of her go-to designers, Veronica Beard, as she touched down in the South American capital, Bogota. Meghan looked business-ready in a chic outfit comprising a sleeveless jacket, cinched at the waist, and ankle-grazing cigarette trousers. Both items are available in navy and red from Veronica Beard. The top, retailing at £596, is described on the brand’s website as a “fashion-forward take on the vest”, featuring a “collared halter silhouette” and tortoiseshell buttons for decorative flair. Meghan stepped out in elegant style wearing a pair of trousers selling for £350. She upped her accessory game with a stunning £3,650 white Loro Piana handbag and what appeared to be a chic £15,000 Lorraine Schwartz “Against Evil Eye” bracelet. Later on, the Duchess changed into something comfier, opting for a Johanna Ortiz pink patterned number, allowing her loosely curled locks to cascade over her shoulders as she and Prince Harry took part in a dance show. Harry’s infamous necklace Yet it wasn’t just Meghan’s sartorial picks that drew gazes, Prince Harry’s choice of jewellery did too. He prominently wore a necklace that has been at the heart of reported tensions with his brother, Prince William. Eagle-eyed royal watchers were quick to spot that Harry was donning the very necklace he claimed was damaged during a fiery argument between the brothers .In his tell-all memoir ‘Spare’, the Duke of Sussex made shocking allegations of a physical confrontation with his sibling, who is now the Prince of Wales, back in 2019. The Prince alleged the scuffle led to his necklace left in tatters. Fast forward to January 2023, when Harry made an appearance on The Late Show in the US. The show’s host, Stephen Colbert, 58, quizzed him about the notorious necklace incident. He asked: “There is a lot of talk about the physical fight that the two of you had, where he pushed you down in the kitchen and broke the dog bowl, when you fell on it. It says it broke your necklace. What necklace was it that he broke? Harry replied: “This one. Which is now fixed.” He then held up the necklace, adorned with three pendants, for the audience to see. ‘Barrier gesture’
Harry and Meghan had a jam packed first day of their Colombia tour
(Image: (Image: AFP via Getty Images))
Harry and Meghan started their day with a visit to the vice president’s residence. They spent roughly half an hour there, exchanging gifts and enjoying tea, coffee and traditional pandebono, a Colombian cheese bread. As they posed for a group photo, body language expert Judi James analysed Harry’s stance. She pointed out its resemblance to his brother William’s signature pose – something Harry has not often been seen to mimic before. Judi remarked: “Harry’s pose here looks almost like a nod to his brother William as he adopts his signature ‘fig leaf’ pose with the hands clasped in front of the lower torso,” The Express writes. “It’s a status-lowering pose that can suggest some shyness but it’s not normally in Harry’s repertoire. “He seems to want to avoid pulling Royal rank in these initial poses, hence the barrier gesture while Meghan signals greater confident with her arms straight down at her sides.” Harry’s ‘true feelings’ After their school visit, the Sussexes were spotted enjoying a performance by a music and dance group at the Delia Zapata National Centre for the Arts. The couple seemed to be having a great time, tapping their feet and sharing smiles as they watched the show. They were also seen chatting and applauding the performers, before posing for photos with them. Body language expert Judi James said that she believes Harry showed signs of discomfort during the performance. She told The Mirror: “Despite his life-long induction into Royal behaviour it was Meghan who managed to sustain a perfect Royal smile at this performance while Harry’s expressions and body language fluctuated.” At times he was actively laughing and chatting using animated gesticulation but there were also ‘flash’ moments like this when his smile dropped and his facial expression looked almost dour in comparison to his wife’s. She added: “When he sat watching there was a lot of pulling and fiddling with his clothes and some foot-shuffling to suggest awkwardness or anxiety while Meghan beside him adopted an elegant pose that didn’t waver.”
The couple arrived in Bogota on Thursday
(Image: (Image: ERIC CHARBONNEAU FOR ARCHEWELL))
Meghan’s hand holding ‘command’ Following their first engagement, the Duke and Duchess were seen holding hands as they left the vice president’s office, heading towards a school. During their visit to the Colegio Cultura Popular in Bogota, the Royal pair met with Leonel Umana Parra, the head of the institution, and Jose David, one of its students. Footage from the visit shows professional lip reader Nicola Hickling spotted Meghan issue a discreet command to Prince Harry. With a simple utterance of “hand”, Harry promptly responded, offering his “Here you go.” During their visit to the Colegio Cultura Popular in Bogota, the Royal pair met with Leonel Umana Parra, the head of the institution, and Jose David, one of its students. At the school, Prince Harry delighted attendees by attempting to count in Spanish and discussing his young children, Archie and Lilibet, mentioning that they are kept away from social media. “I have young children and they’re not on social media,” Harry remarked, reports Ms Hickling.”Story SavedYou can find this story in  My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right.Follow OK! MagazineFacebookTwitterCommentMore OnMeghan MarklePrince HarryRoyal Family
