Royal reporter Duncan Larcombe has raised the “question everyone is asking” about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s trip to the UK as the couple arrive in the South American country.
The Sussexes touched down in Bogota earlier today where they were met by Colombia’s vice-president Francia Marquez and her husband Rafael Yerney Pinillo.
Speaking on GB News, Larcombe criticised the trip given Harry’s admission that he would not bring Meghan to Britain as he fears for her safety.
“Every time there’s an official royal tour, an overseas visit, it’s always at the request of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office because of soft diplomacy”, he said.
Duncan Larcombe questioned the motives of the trip
GETTY / GB NEWS
“There’s a reason that’s got to happen. Harry and Meghan have effectively just decided to accept invitations.
“They went to Nigeria earlier this year. Again, that had nothing to do with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
Larcome joined Tom Harwood and Emily Carver on GB News
GB NEWS
“It had nothing to do with their status as royals other than they were able to be persuaded to go.
“I think the question that everyone’s asking is, ‘why on earth are they there?’ What are they trying to achieve?’”
Speaking about the “curious” trip, Larcombe added: “This trip raises to many questions.
“It’s hard to fit them all in. He always says he can’t come to Great Britain with Meghan because it’s too dangerous without his royal security.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were invited to visit Colombia by the country’s Vice President, Francia MárquezGetty“Yet he goes to a country that I think I’m right in saying the Foreign and Commonwealth Office warned British subjects not to go there.”
The current advice from the UK Government advises against all but essential travel to parts of the South American country.
But this appears to be of little concern to the Sussexes who are being given a full security detail throughout their visit.
The idea to invite the couple came about from watching their controversial Netflix docuseries, the country’s vice-president admitted.
“I saw the Netflix series about their life, their story and that moved me and motivated me to say that this is a woman who deserves to come to our country and tell her story and her exchange will undoubtedly be an empowerment to so many women in the world,” Marquez said.
Marquez described their trip as “very special” as it aims to build bridges and join forces against cyber-bullying and online digital violence and discrimination.