Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have hit the ground running in Colombia.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex stepped out in South America on Aug. 15, kicking off a trip at the invitation of Colombian Vice President Francia Márquez. Márquez announced on Aug. 1 that Prince Harry, 39, and Meghan, 43, “kindly accepted my invitation to visit our beautiful country” and would visit the cities of Bogotá, 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,” Márquez said.
The vice president added that the visit would happen before the inaugural Global Ministerial Conference on Ending Violence Against Children in Colombia in November, noting that one of the summit’s aims of making the online world a safer place aligns with the same tenet of Prince Harry and Meghan’s charitable Archwell Foundation.
The Colombia trip is focused on key aspects of the Archwell Foundation’s core work, plus some of Harry and Meghan’s longtime causes like the military community and female empowerment.
Scroll below for all the best photos from their visit…so far!
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s First Event
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The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were welcomed to Colombia by Vice President Márquez and her husband, Rafael Yerney Pinillo, around 9 a.m., local time on Aug. 15. The couples convened at the vice president’s residence for coffee, tea and traditional pan de bono (Colombian cheese bread) and exchanged welcome gifts.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Connect with the Vice President
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During the meeting, Márquez told Prince Harry and Meghan that she shared their vision for championing a safer digital future and mental health landscape.
The vice president also shared her admiration for Prince Harry’s late mother, Princess Diana, according to Harper’s Bazaar.
Meghan Markle and Vice President Marquez Share a Hug
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In a press conference on Aug. 15, Márquez said that she was inspired to invite the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to Colombia after learning more about their story in their docuseries Harry & Meghan. The six-part series smashed streaming records on Netflix when it debuted in December 2022.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry See a School
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No chatting in the hallway…unless Prince Harry and Meghan are visiting! The Duke and Duchess of Sussex then headed to Colegio Cultura Popular, a charter school in Bogotá, with Márquez and Pinillo.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Join an Insight Session
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Prince Harry and Meghan participated in an Insight Session with pupils, where some of the young people opened up about how social media impacts them both positively and negatively.
Meghan praised the students as “impressive, smart and savvy,” while Harry asked about how they manage social media and digital literacy at home with their families.
Meghan Markle Breaks for Recess
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Following the discussion, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex stepped outside — for recess!
Prince Harry Smiles in the Schoolyard
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The couple connected with students and teachers, posing for some photos.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Walk Hand in Hand
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A statement shared to the couple’s sussex.com website said that the school visit “underscored the importance of nurturing young minds in a supportive environment and providing opportunities for both personal and academic growth.”
“Prince Harry and Meghan were deeply moved by the students’ passion and creativity and expressed their admiration for the school’s commitment to education and community enrichment,” it said.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Explore Local Arts
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The Duke and Duchess of Sussex then checked out a performance at the National Centre for the Arts in Bogotá. Both Harry and Meghan changed outfits, with the Duchess of Sussex donning the colorful Navajo Weaver dress by Colombian designer Johanna Ortiz, supporting a label she’s worn before.
Prince Harry Meets a Jaguar!
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The Duke of Sussex let out a laugh when he met an artist rocking an elaborate costume.
Meghan Markle Grooves to the Music
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She’s got the beat! Meghan joined Márquez in dancing towards the end of the musical performance at National Centre for the Arts.
Prince Harry Gives Meghan Markle a Hug and Kiss
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Prince Harry wrapped his wife in a warm embrace as they stood up from their seats at the arts center.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are known show their love for one another, which etiquette expert Myka Meir previously told PEOPLE “makes them relatable and lovable to the public.”
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Speak at a Summit
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Highlighting a key theme of their trip to Colombia, Prince Harry and Meghan took the stage at Universidad EAN for a summit on a Responsible Digital Future, hosted by the Archewell Foundation in partnership with the vice president’s office and Luminate. The couple stressed the urgency of prioritizing humanity and connection in today’s digital landscape.
“With the Archewell Foundation, me and my wife believe that information integrity is a fundamental right,” Prince Harry said in part.
Added Meghan, “We should model how we want our kids to be raised and for the world in which we raise them.” The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are parents to son Prince Archie, 5, and daughter Princess Lilibet, 3.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Smile for a Selfie
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Prince Harry and Meghan leaned in for a picture with with Rappler co-founder and Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Ressa (who Prince Harry previously spoke with for TIME), Márquez and Pinillo.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Go Back to the Classroom
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The Duke and Duchess of Sussex stepped out on Aug. 16 for the second day of their tour with a visit to the Colegio La Giraldaon school in Santa Fe. Prince Harry and Meghan made the stop to highlight the importance of social-emotional well-being in education.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Receive a Warm Welcome
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Prince Harry and Meghan were welcomed with performances throughout the school grounds, where some students sported traditional Colombian dress and performed cumbia songs featuring live percussion.
Meghan Markle Visits a Kindergarten
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The Duke and Duchess of Sussex popped into a kindergarten class, where they worked on puzzles and practiced their Spanish-language skills. Prince Harry asked students their names and ages, and Meghan brought up their son, Prince Archie.
“You’re the same age as my son, Archie!” she told a student in Spanish.
Meghan also wore some sentimental jewelry to the school — butterfly earrings that previously belonged to Princess Diana.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Have a Working Lunch
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Prince Harry and Meghan then moved to a private lunch hosted by Vice President Márquez, Harper’s Bazaar reported.
“The intimate gathering was attended by esteemed guests including government officials and leaders of international organization and cultural sectors all across the country,” the outlet said. It added that the gathering “was meant to provide a platform for meaningful dialogue to discuss critical global issues at hand, including creating safer environments for children around the world.”
According to Harper’s Bazaar, Prince Harry and Meghan both delivered brief remarks, with the Duchess of Sussex sharing hers entirely in Spanish. After graduating from Northwestern University, Meghan honed her Spanish language skills during an internship with the U.S. Embassy in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Meet Team Colombia
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The Duke and Duchess of Sussex met with members of Colombia’s Invictus Games team at the Centro de Rehabilitación Inclusiva for a training session. Prince Harry and Meghan toured the swimming pool, rock climbing wall gym and rehabilitation areas, and heard about the athletes’ favorite workout routines and how they stay strong.
Harry hopped in to join a volleyball match with Pinillo towards the end of the visit, while Meghan and Márquez cheered them on.
Prince Harry, Proud Patron
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Go team! Prince Harry smiled in a group picture.
The Duke of Sussex, a former captain in the British Army, launched the Invictus Games as an international adaptive sports tournament for wounded, injured and sick service personnel and veterans in 2014. Colombia became the first South American nation to send a delegation to the sixth edition of the competition in Düsseldorf, Germany, in September 2023.
Source people.com
