PRINCE Harry and Meghan Markle were guarded by an “immense” army of security in Colombia with one officer appearing to hold up a ballistic Kevlar shield during their visit to a school.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have a full security detail, alongside vice-president Francia Marquez, who invited them on the tour.
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A security guard appears to hold a Kevlar shield over Harry’s back with another in the background scanning the perimeterCredit: Rex
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Meghan and Harry hug a group of schoolkids on day two of their Colombia tour – with what appears to be a Kevlar shield held up on the leftCredit: Mega
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Harry and Meghan visited a school during their time in Colombia
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The Duke and Duchess of Sussex touched down in Colombia yesterday
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Meghan spoke to one child about Archie
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Harry and Meghan were accompanied by an “immense” security presence in ColombiaCredit: Splash
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A member of the security detail holding a shield during the visitCredit: Rex
Harry and Meghan’s cavalcade included at least 14 vehicles and the school’s perimeter had soldiers, police and suited private security stationed around it.
Their “immense security presence” in Colombia is thought to include an officer armed with a Kevlar shield – known as a ballistic briefcase – to stop any potential shooter taking aim at the couple.
Pictures from their visit to the school’s garden appeared to show a security guard brandishing the shield in the crowd.
At each event the couple have attended, the man has been seen jumping out of a vehicle ahead of the couple while holding the folding shield.
The item – known as a ballistic briefcase – is also being used to protect the country’s vice president Francia Marquez who is hosting the visit and has been the target of several assassination attempts.
During their visit to Colegio La Giralda in the capital, Bogot, the Duke and Duchess took part in an art session and planted trees.
Harry and Meghan’s arrival was celebrated with performances from students who wore traditional Colombian dress and played cumbia songs with live percussion.
Pupils also presented presents for their children Archie, five, and Lilibet, three, including Colombian style ponchos, as well as personal letters and drawings.
While visiting a nursery class, Meghan practising her Spanish, told a student: “You’re the same age as my son Archie.”
Harry also had a go at Spanish, asking students their names and ages.
It is understood the children performed a song for the Duke and Duchess before presenting them with gifts and handwritten letters.
Prince Harry & Meghan Markle have tea & cake with Colombia’s scandal-hit VP as ‘faux royal tour’ kicks off
The couple’s first port of call inside the school was to look at the historical memory museum.
Inside, students share art they’ve created commemorating those killed in past national conflicts, including some of their own relatives.
The students described the room as a space meant for creation and collaboration and their artwork is made to honour the resilience of the Colombian people.
Harry and Meghan also visited the school’s “social and emotional gym” which teaches students mental and physical exercises to balance their mental health and personal wellbeing.
The students demonstrated for the Duke, Duchess, and VP their own personal meditation techniques and how they balance their emotions, good and bad.
Harry then got down on his knees and donned boxing gloves before having a go on the punching bag in the gym.
Accompanied by Ms Marquez, the pair went to the school’s garden where three trees were planted.
The garden has existed since 2020 and was created for students to not only learn to appreciate the Earth but also the farmers of Colombia who provide food for the country.
It was a lovely experience to have them here
School CEO Diana Basto
Harry and Meghan stepped down from the working monarchy in 2020 and no longer travel at the request of the UK Government on official overseas royal visits.
Royal experts have branded the visit a “faux-royal” tour after an invite from the country’s Vice President Márquez.
School CEO Diana Basto said: “It was so special for us to have Harry and Meghan come and visit us and the staff and children were all very excited. It was a lovely experience to have them here.
“They visited various parts of the school including the memorial museum section where they learned about people who have been killed in previous conflicts in Colombia’s history.
“It was emotional for them and from their to the kindergarten and then finally onto the garden where they helped plant two trees.
“There was music and dancing as they went around the school and they joined in with the dancing. Then Harry had a go at the punching bag in the gym.
“They were super excited when they were given the presents and because the children in the kindergarten are the same age as Archie.”
It comes as Harry and Meghan’s Chief of Staff, John Kettler, quit his role just days before the trip.
The senior employee had only been working for the duke and duchess for three months, but was present at key events for the couple.
Now insiders have revealed the “real reason” why he threw in the towel ahead of the controversial tour.
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Harry and Meghan have been surrounded by security on their visit to the nation
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The couple also took part in an art session and planted trees
PIERS MORGAN: One word springs to mind when I think of deluded Meghan and Harry ‘prancing around’ on fake royal tour of Colombia
By Piers Morgan
My all-time favourite theatre review was about a play called: Why?
The critic wrote one word: “Exactly.”
I thought of this when I heard that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will embark on a four-day tour of Colombia this Thursday.
They’re going at the invitation of the country’s first black Vice President, Francia Marquez, who gushed that the renegade royal duo “have the exceptional opportunity to engage with elders, youth and women who embody the aspirations and voices of Colombians . . . and illuminate Colombia’s role as a beacon of culture and innovation”.
Meghan and Harry aren’t real royals these days.
They don’t do any actual duties for the institution which conferred their titles on them — they just line their pockets with cash in America by constantly trashing their families, and the monarchy, in the media.
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.
First, the laughable hypocrisy of them going to one of the world’s most dangerous places — both the UK and US government websites warn travellers to Colombia about the elevated risk of terrorism, kidnapping, rape and robbery — after all of Harry’s whiny demands for taxpayer-funded royal security when he comes to the UK to “protect his family”.
Second, their decision to go and prop up a Colombian government that’s been bedevilled by scandal since coming to power.
President Gustavo Petro, a radical socialist who once fought in a rebel guerrilla group, has seen his foreign minister suspended for alleged cor- ruption, his son Nicolas charged with pocketing cash from drug traffickers meant for his father’s presidential campaign, and his brother Juan accused of seeking payments from jailed drug dealers in exchange for judicial benefits from the government.
Petro’s also faced recent allegations that he cheated on his wife with a transgender TV host.
As for his Vice President, there’s been growing public anger over her hypocrisy at being Colombia’s minister for equality while simultaneously using luxury helicopters like taxis and spending millions on a new home where she now lives instead of her official residence.
Opposition politician Miguel Polo Polo posted on X: “Francia Marquez is the biggest fraud in our black community.
“She’s been in office for two years and has done nothing, only play the victim and travel around in helicopters.”
Sound familiar?
But what I’m most annoyed about is the Sussexes’ delusion that they can somehow operate as a rival royal family on the global stage, enjoying all the benefits from that regal status but without any need to fulfil their obligations to their King and country.
It’s completely unacceptable, and unsustainable, for estranged members of the Royal Family to conduct official trips like this.
The King should strip Meghan and Harry of their titles that they trade off so cynically, and instruct Palace officials to tell heads of foreign governments that they must stop issuing formal tour invitations of this nature to this greedy two-faced pair who want to have their royal cake and eat it.
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Publish date : 2024-08-16 15:47:00
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