Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will travel to Colombia for a national tour later this year at the invitation of the country’s Vice President, Francia Márquez. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will visit the South American state to “engage with leaders, youth and women” and to “experience the rich heritage of Colombia.”
The trip, which is scheduled for an undisclosed date, will precede the inaugural Global Ministerial Conference on Ending Violence Against Children. Harry and Meghan are set to focus on activities regarding the mental health impact of cyberbullying and online exploitation.
Márquez said she was “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,” added the vice president, “they will have the exceptional opportunity to engage with leaders, youth, and women who embody the aspirations and voices of Colombians committed to progress. In addition to these meaningful interactions, the Duke and Duchess will experience the rich heritage of Colombia.”
With reference to the mental health focus of the trip and the subsequent conference, Márquez praised Prince Harry and Meghan’s work with the Archewell Foundation, which she said was “renowned for its global leadership in fostering a safer online environment.”
The vice president concluded: “We are confident that their visit will further illuminate Colombia's role as a beacon of culture and innovation.”
In an upcoming interview with CBS, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will outline their commitment to promoting online safety for children.
“Our kids are young, they’re three and five, they’re amazing,” said Meghan Markle in a trailer for the show. “But all you want to do as parents is protect them, and so as we can see what’s happening in the online space, we know that there’s a lot of work to be done there, we’re just happy to be a part of change for good.”