3 months ago
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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s four-day visit to Colombia amounted to a cost of nearly £45,000 for the country, as per official figures released by Vice-President Francia Márquez office.
Márquez had extended the invitation to the royal couple, following a request from Senator Maria Fernanda Cabal, her political rival. Cabal had previously criticised the tour, which took place from August 15 to 18, as "showmanship" and "
wasteful spending
."
The total expenditure, which was Col$244,245,305 (£44,725.14), covered various aspects of the trip, including security and internal transportation throughout the trip.
However, it was also revealed that the
Duke and Duchess of Sussex
covered their own expenses for flights, accommodation in Bogota, and other general costs, the Daily mail reported.
Colombia tour cost breakdown
The total cost encompassed an eight-day period from August 12 to 19, as it included advance visits by security and logistics personnel, the Telegraph reported.
The breakdown of expenses included £7,500 for security during engagements in San Basilio de Palenque, a town established in 1619 as the first free African settlement in the Americas.
Additionally, £4,500 was spent on security in Cali, where the royal couple posed for photographs and enjoyed live performances by a youth organization.
The couple engaged in various activities
During their visit, Harry and Meghan engaged with the local community by visiting a school and participating in a summit in collaboration with their Archewell Foundation, focusing on creating a healthier digital landscape.
They also attended a forum that honored the contributions of Afro-Colombian women, leaders, and entrepreneurs. Prince Harry also engaged in a friendly game of volleyball with Colombian Invictus Games athletes in Bogota.
'Very special visit' aimed to build bridges
According to the Colombian publication Semana, Vice President Francia Márquez who serves as Colombia's first black vice-president in the country's first left-wing government led by President Gustavo Petro, is a lawyer and human rights and environmental activist.
She said that no payments were made by the country for the Sussexes'air travel, accommodation, or fees during their visit to Colombia. However, throughout their stay, Harry and Meghan were provided with a full security detail alongside Márquez.
Márquez said that she was inspired to invite the Sussexes after being moved by their Netflix documentary. She described their trip as a 'very special visit' that aimed to build bridges and join forces against cyber-bullying, online digital violence, and discrimination while also promoting women's leadership in Colombia.
The couple's safety was a top concern throughout their stay in Colombia.
According to daily mail, the Foreign Office advises against non-essential travel to specific regions of the country due to the high rates of kidnapping. Colombia is described as being 'seriously affected by conflict' with a resurgence of violence in certain areas despite the peace agreement with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) to end the civil war.
Prince Harry has earlier said that it remains unsafe for Meghan to return to the United Kingdom. In February, he lost a High Court challenge against the Home Office regarding changes to his personal security level when visiting the UK, but he has been granted permission to appeal the decision.
