Are Harry and Meghan’s tours much more impactful than the Royal Family’s? Vote in our poll
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex marked their final day in Colombiawith a speech on female empowerment, but do YOU think Harry and Meghan's tours have more impact than tours by the Royal Family?
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle concluded their four-day trip to Colombia at a festival that celebrates Afro-Colombian music – and we want to hear your thoughts on the quasi royal tour.
After being greeted by Vice President Francia Márquez, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex spent the first two days talking to experts and visiting local schools to promote the importance of digital literacy and mental health awareness. Speaking at a summit on internet safety, Meghan said that while the internet can be “harmonious” it has also created a culture where people can be “cruel”.
The visit was also organised to showcase the country’s culture and history, as Ms Marquez said ahead of their arrival that the tour will further “illuminate Colombia’s role as a beacon of culture and innovation”. The couple, who stepped down from royal duties in 2020, attended an indigenous dance performance, visited a percussion school, and participated at the Afro Women and Power conference.
They also delivered a speech on female empowerment, engaged with local people and met the Colombian Invictus Games Team. This marks the couple’s second unofficial tour this year, after their three-day trip to Nigeria in May, where Meghan proudly spoke of her desire to reconnect with her African heritage.
The Sussexes have faced criticism for their recent international tours, due to them not being working royals anymore. Royal expert Kinsey Schofield voiced on her YouTube channel that people need to “stop calling these hillbilly holidays royal tours”.
Piers Morgan told The Sun: “Meghan and Harry aren’t real royals these days. So, what gives them the right to prance around the world pretending to be proper royals, on quasi- official visits? There are so many things wrong about this.”
Meanwhile, royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams pointed out that the tour was “successful” in boosting the pair’s “international profile”. He told GB News: “This is a positive royal tour, is one of the best ways that Britain projected its soft power. The Sussexes have jumped on the bandwagon.”
