Meghan and Harry to visit Colombia

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are to visit Colombia at the invitation of the country’s vice president Francia Marquez.

Meghan and Harry will tour the South American nation later in the year, travelling to the capital Bogota and the coastal areas of the country.

Ms Marquez, a lawyer and human rights and environmental activist said in a statement: “During their trip, the duke and duchess will join me in visiting Bogota, as well as the Caribbean and Pacific regions of Cartagena and Cali.

“In these vibrant locations, 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.”

The Sussexes’ trip to Colombia will be their second official tour of the year after they visited Nigeria in May taking part in a range of activities over three days.

Harry met injured service personnel and Meghan co-hosted a Women in Leadership event with Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the director-general of the World Trade Organisation.

Details of the couple’s Colombian itinerary have not been released by the Archewell Foundation, their charitable body, but the vice president said they would “engage in several activities” related to safeguarding young people online and in physical spaces.

The topics are expected to be discussed at the Global Ministerial Conference on Ending Violence Against Children, which Colombia will be hosting in November after the visit.

Ms Marquez, who is also minister of equality and equity, said: “The forthcoming conference will unveil a comprehensive framework for creating safer physical and digital spaces, tackling issues such as cyberbullying, online exploitation, and the mental health impacts of these threats.

“It will offer actionable solutions and commitments for countries around the world. During their visit, The Duke and Duchess, as well as The Archewell Foundation, will engage in several activities related to this important topic.

“We are confident that their visit will further illuminate Colombia’s role as a beacon of culture and innovation.”