Prince Harry and Meghan’s Colombian Tour: PR Stunt or Political Pawn?

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle just got back from a four-day “quasi-royal” tour of Colombia, which got mixed opinions about what it was for, who it helped, and how much it cost. Reports and pictures from the office of the Colombian vice president and Harper’s Bazaar showed them playing with local kids, going to cultural events, and Meghan’s speech at an Afro Women and Power event. However, local media were skeptical about the visit.

There were worries about the resources used to house the couple, who were still subject to strict security measures even though they were not representing the British monarchy. Reports from the area say that during their trip to Cartagena and San Basilio de Palenque, about 3,000 police officers were present, and roads were closed and planes flew over.

Even though the event was set up in a big way, a reporter noticed that there were no big groups or media access. This made people wonder even more about how important the event really was. The mayor of Cartagena, Dumek Turbay, was noticeably missing because he had not been invited to the events.

Some Colombian journalists said that the visit didn’t get much attention from the public. Many people thought that the government should focus on more important topics instead of high-profile celebrity events. There are still doubts about whether the Sussexes were used as political pawns when there were problems in the government. Meanwhile, it’s still not clear how much their visit cost, including Meghan’s clothing, which is thought to be $116,000.