Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's recent visit to Colombia has sparked widespread criticism, with detractors accusing the couple of hypocrisy given Harry's repeated claims that the United Kingdom is too dangerous for them to visit. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex landed in Colombia on August 15, following an invitation from the country's vice president, Francia Márquez, but the trip has been overshadowed by backlash.
Public opinion appears sharply divided, with many questioning the couple's decision to travel to a country known for its security challenges while maintaining that the UK is unsafe. Adam Brooks, a commentator who spoke on GB News, did not mince words in his criticism.
"I've never hidden my thoughts on these two, I really can't stand them if I'm honest. He's as wet and as hypocritical as they come, and she's one massive diva," Brooks stated.
Brooks expressed particular disappointment given the enthusiasm that surrounded Harry and Meghan's wedding in 2018, an event that he and many others believed would positively impact race relations in the UK. "It's a shame because in 2018, I threw a party for their wedding, the nation was on a buzz. I thought it would help race relations, and I thought it was great that he was marrying her, but she's just turned out to be a disaster. And I think she's nearly split up the Royal Family," he continued.
The controversy has been fueled further by Harry's previous comments regarding his reluctance to return to the UK due to security concerns. In the documentary Tabloids on Trial, Harry described his fear of bringing Meghan and their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, to his homeland, citing the potential dangers posed by a lone actor inspired by negative media coverage.
"It's still dangerous, and all it takes is one lone actor, one person who reads this stuff to act on what they have read," Harry said in the documentary. "And whether it's a knife or acid, whatever it is, and these are things that are of genuine concern for me. It's one of the reasons why I won't bring my wife back to this country."
Former Labour Minister Bill Rammell, who has experience traveling to Colombia, weighed in on the issue, noting the security challenges in the South American country. "As a minister, I went to Colombia three times, and I only went with protection officers because it's one of the most dangerous countries in the world," Rammell explained. While he acknowledged the personal struggles Harry has faced, including the loss of his mother at a young age and his estrangement from his family, Rammell suggested that the decision to prioritize Colombia over the UK might be seen as inconsistent.
The trip to Colombia is part of a broader international engagement strategy by the Sussexes, following a successful visit to Nigeria in May. However, commentators like Emma Webb have questioned the relevance of the couple's initiatives in countries like Nigeria and Colombia, suggesting that they are out of touch with the more pressing social and political issues in these regions.
"For young people in both Colombia and Nigeria, online harms are probably the least of their worries and the two of them just seem so out of touch," Webb argued. "There is something kind of absurd about the two of them. It's almost a kind of level of detachment that is delusional in some way."
Webb also criticized the Sussexes for not addressing more critical issues during their international visits, such as the Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria. "Did they call out Boko Haram and the kidnapping of schoolgirls when they were in Nigeria? I don't think they did," she pointed out.
The backlash also comes amid reports of internal turmoil within the Sussexes' team, with the recent departure of their chief of staff after just three months in the role. This marks the latest in a series of staff turnovers that have plagued the couple's operations. Rammell suggested that the Sussexes need to hire experienced staff and heed their advice to avoid further damage to their brand. "To lose one member of staff from your entourage might be deemed unfortunate - to lose 18 in 6 years is a bit of a disaster. And I think they need to get a grip," he remarked.
