Meghan Markle and Prince Harry recently made a public appearance at a school in Bogotá, Colombia, where they visited Colegio Leal, a school located in the town of Santa Fe.
During their visit, the couple engaged with young students, with Prince Harry reportedly asking the children their names and ages in Spanish, showcasing his effort to connect with them in their native language. Meghan Markle, in turn, expressed her delight upon discovering that one of the children she spoke with was the same age as her son, Archie. This personal connection seemed to add warmth to the visit, highlighting Meghan's maternal side.
However, the visit quickly became a subject of controversy on social media. Some Twitter users accused the couple of misleading the children. A rumor circulating online claimed that the students had initially been told that Colombian footballer James Rodriguez would be visiting them. Instead, they were reportedly surprised when Meghan and Harry arrived. Critics argued that this switch was a deliberate act of deception, designed to enhance the couple's public image at the expense of the underprivileged children. The accusation gained traction when the Twitter account "Royal Gossip UK" posted, "Harry and Meghan deceived school children in Colombia. The kids were told footballer James Rodriguez would visit, but the Sussexes showed up instead. It's disgraceful to lie to underprivileged kids for self-promotion."
Adding fuel to the fire, another Twitter user, "Harry's Gray Suit," suggested that the entire event might have been staged, writing, "There's no way this sweet little girl would curtsy to them unless someone showed her how and told her to. If adults want to participate in this charade, that's fine, but exploiting children for PR is disgusting." This sentiment was echoed by others who accused the couple of using the children for public relations purposes. The controversy deepened with comments from "Megan's Mul," another social media account, which harshly criticized Meghan Markle for reportedly telling the school children that she is a princess. The tweet stated, "What kind of mentally deranged and insecure 58-year-old would brag to poverty-stricken school children that she's a real-life princess? Nothing like forcing your way into a classroom full of underage children after lying to them about a football star coming to visit, only for them to get an escort who thinks she's royalty."
Royal expert Victoria Murphy also weighed in on the situation, offering a scathing critique of the visit. According to Murphy, Meghan and Harry’s visit appeared aimless and poorly executed. She suggested that the couple seemed out of touch and lacking in clear purpose since stepping back from their official royal duties. In an interview with The Sun's Royal Editor Matt Wilkinson, Murphy argued that Meghan and Harry's trip lacked a clear objective and failed to make a meaningful impact. "We don't know who they're going to meet or what they're representing," Murphy remarked, contrasting their visit with that of Sophie, The Duchess of Edinburgh, who recently met with Colombian Vice President Francia Márquez. Sophie's visit was seen as a clear representation of British interests, whereas Meghan and Harry's visit seemed to lack any substantial alignment with a particular message or cause.
Murphy further criticized the couple's disconnect from the everyday concerns of Colombians. While the stated aims of their trip were to address cyberbullying and promote women's leadership, these high-level social issues might not resonate with a population struggling with more immediate concerns such as poverty and crime. In a country where nearly half of the population lives on less than $100 a month, Murphy suggested that the couple's focus on abstract social issues seemed out of touch with the harsh realities faced by many Colombians.
The controversy was compounded by Murphy's observations regarding Meghan and Harry's involvement with their charity, the Archewell Foundation. She pointed out that their commitment appeared superficial, with the foundation reportedly receiving minimal attention or effort from the couple. "It's hard to see how everything fits together," Murphy noted, adding that Meghan and Harry would benefit from being more focused and clearer about what they represent.
