Harry and Meghan plan tour as 'revenge on the royals'

As the Duke and Duchess of Sussex arrange a royal-style trip to Colombia, a source tells new that Meghan is keen to show the world her star quality

- Kirsty Brook

It was January 2020 when the Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced they were leaving the UK and their royal duties behind for a new life in North America. The couple revealed they wanted “privacy” and “space” to raise their son Archie and since their departure have been at the centre of a highly publicised rift with the royal family.

In a shock move, however, it was announced earlier this month that the pair plan to tour Colombia in South America later this year – and the news has certainly raised a few eyebrows among royal courtiers.

This will be the Sussexes’ second tour as non-working royals, following their three-day Nigeria trip in May, inspired by Meghan’s discovery of her own Nigerian heritage. In the wake of their exit from the royal family, it’s said there is concern that embarking on these types of trips do not serve Britain’s interests and will undermine the work of the royal family. Many also worry it could deepen their ongoing rift with the Firm.

While full details of their tour are being kept under wraps, it's been confirmed Harry, 39, and Meghan, 43, will visit the capital, Bogotá, and coastal regions, after receiving an official invite from the country's vice president and minister for equality and equity, Francia Márquez.

Meghan has said she hopes they will "experience the rich heritage" of the nation and "further illuminate Colombia's role as a beacon of culture and innovation".

The safety implications of the trip, meanwhile, are a concern. The country has a notoriously high crime rate concerning drug-related crime, terrorism, civil unrest and kidnapping, with the Foreign Office in the UK advising against travel to certain areas of Colombia and the US encouraging citizens to reconsider travel plans there.