Prince Harry and Meghan to visit Colombian town lauded as symbol of anti-colonialism
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will on Thursday begin a four-day tour of Colombia during which they are expected to visit a town that has become a symbol of anti-colonial resistance.
The couple are being hosted by Francia Marquez, the vice-president, who is known as a vocal champion of Afro-Colombians and women’s rights.
The itinerary, reported in local media, is expected to include a visit to San Basilio de Palenque, a town founded by runaway slaves that became South America’s first “free town” and is now celebrated for its historic cultural links to Africa.
There, Prince Harry and Meghan are likely to see a striking statue of Benkos Bioho, the town’s founding father, who was captured from Guinea-Bissau in West Africa by Portuguese slave traders in the late 16th century and taken to Cartagena where he led a resistance.
The couple will also visit the Petronio Alvarez Festival in Cali, a celebration of Afro-Colombian music.
The Sussexes are understood to have chosen to visit the country to see its work in the space of protecting children from online harm, their latest cause.
The Duke and Duchess are expected to elaborate on their interest in Colombia when they meet with young leaders, notable women and politicians during their visit.
Ms Marquez said the couple had “kindly accepted my invitation to visit our beautiful country”.
“We are confident that their visit will further illuminate Colombia’s role as a beacon of culture and innovation.”
The visit has been subject to significant security concerns after Prince Harry suggested Britain was not safe for his wife.
It has not been confirmed who is paying for the Sussexes’ trip, with on-the-ground security said to be covered in the country.
Ms Marquez receives public security and has been the subject of death threats and at least one assassination attempt.
A local source told The Telegraph it would be a “hugely unpopular” move if the Colombian taxpayer was footing the bill for the Sussexes’ travel and accommodation.
The first two days of the visit will see Prince Harry and Meghan officially greeted by the vice-president and her husband.
Engagements, including one at a school and one summit, will focus on young people’s use of the internet and social media.
The Sussexes have recently launched a support group for parents whose children have suffered harm online, and are said to be interested in the work of Ms Marquez in the same area.
They will also visit young school students to highlight the importance of wellbeing in education and attend an event with the country’s Invictus Games team.
They are expected to move on from Bogota to the coastal city of Cartagena and San Basilio de Palenque, which has been awarded Unesco heritage status as the only surviving walled community founded by escaped slaves as a refuge in the 17th century.
The small town has a population of around 3,500, is home to “palenquero”, the only Spanish-based creole language in Latin America, and is a popular tourist destination.
The trip will see Prince Harry and Meghan make their first foray into South America.
Colombia is not part of the Commonwealth, although it has had multiple visits from working members of the Royal family at the request of the British government.
Commentators have warned of the risks of the trip for Prince Harry and Meghan, not least being seen to represent the current Left-wing government as its guests.
