Concerns Over Safety Highlighted as Duke and Duchess of Sussex Plan Trip
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been advised to consider the risks associated with their upcoming tour of Colombia due to security concerns, according to GB News's Royal Correspondent. The couple's plans have prompted discussions about their safety, especially given Prince Harry's previous concerns about security in the UK.
In the latest episode of The Royal Record podcast, Cameron Walker and Svar Nanan-Sen, GB News's Digital Royal Editor, discussed the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's impending visit to Colombia. Vice President Francia Márquez recently extended a personal invitation for Prince Harry, 39, and Meghan, 43, to explore Bogotá, as well as the Caribbean and Pacific regions of Cartagena and Cali.
This invitation comes on the heels of Prince Harry's interview with ITV, where he expressed apprehension about bringing Meghan back to the UK due to safety concerns. Harry stated, "All it takes is one lone actor, one person who reads this stuff, to act on what they have read... Whether it's a knife or acid, whatever it is. These are things that are a genuine concern for me. It's one of the reasons why I won't bring my wife back to this country."
Cameron Walker emphasised during the podcast, "When it comes to Prince Harry and Meghan, Harry said in the ITV documentary he is worried about somebody reading something negative about him and Meghan in the UK press, which then sparks a so-called kind of lone wolf attack on them."
The Sussexes' visit to Colombia follows Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh's trip to the country in November 2023, where she met with Vice President Márquez. Svar Nanan-Sen remarked, "The Duchess of Edinburgh has only just really travelled to Colombia, she went in November 2023, less than a year ago. So there is an aspect to this where, does Prince Harry actually feel Colombia for him and Meghan is safer than going to the UK now?"
Cameron responded, "Well, Harry and Meghan obviously had to weigh up the risks here, and they have decided that they are going to accept the invitation from the Colombian Government. I'm sure they will very much be focused on highlighting online safety as well as Meghan with women in leadership and of course, the Conference of Ending Violence Against Children, which we don't expect them to go to, but clearly the visit is happening the same year that the conference is going on."
This decision follows reports of concern from Charles, 75, and William, 42, who feared that a more high-profile destination chosen by Harry and Meghan could overshadow the working members of the Royal Family. Sources have indicated that there were apprehensions about Harry and Meghan potentially appearing at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
