One person who was front and centre was the vice-president, Francia Marquez, whose office orchestrated the entire trip. Her motivation is perhaps more transparent.
By inviting two such high-profile celebrities to tour her country, she has put herself and her own causes firmly in the global spotlight.
She said she viewed the Sussexes as a joint “symbol of resistance” and “rebellion” and felt moved to get in touch after watching their Netflix series, Harry & Meghan.
But Ms Marquez is a divisive figure and her opponents seized upon the invitation as proof that she was not focused on the domestic issues at hand.
Maria Fernanda Cabal, a Right-wing senator who has been positioning herself as a presidential candidate for 2026, said: “The invitation to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex brings absolutely no cultural exchange or anything of the sort.
“It is part of the showmanship of a vice-president who is disconnected from the reality of the country.
“The vice-president is black and, as a minority, should set an example of greatness, of affection towards the population, especially the poor, without resentment or hatred.
“She should seek out even minimal projects that the community needs, stand by the people, not by royalty.”
Call for slave trade apology
The couple’s visit to a town founded by escaped slaves in the colonial era prompted some to predict that the Duchess would speak about her own family history having recently revealed she is 43 per cent Nigerian. Research suggests she is descended from cotton slaves.
The Duke, too, was considered “uniquely positioned” to speak about reparations, with some even calling for him to apologise for his family’s role in the slave trade.
No such references were made. Instead, the couple were there to “listen and learn”, it was said, and to experience the culture and community.
When the couple were in Nigeria in May, Prince Harry said of their decision to travel: “There’s only so much one can do from home and over Zoom. So we look forward to travelling more … there will always be reasons to meet the people at the heart of our work.”
One can only assume that the knowledge the couple have taken back to California from Colombia will inform their future projects, whatever they may be.