The circus that has become Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's life recently took its latest act to Colombia.
The couple embarked on a four-day tour, which was supposedly intended to support initiatives aimed at protecting young people from online dangers. One might have hoped that this tour could serve as a pivotal moment for the pair—a chance to showcase their purported dedication to causes beyond their own grievances. However, as is often the case with them, the reality proved far less inspiring and significantly more entertaining, though for all the wrong reasons.
The tour's itinerary was as predictable as it was uninspired: visits to local schools, a few meticulously staged photo opportunities, and, naturally, the obligatory speeches. Meghan, ever the self-styled beacon of modern morality, took the stage at the Responsible Digital Future Forum in Bogotá. There, she delivered what can only be described as a jumble of clichés, with the earnestness of a motivational speaker at a corporate retreat. She urged the audience to consider what their elders might say before posting something unpleasant online, echoing a sentiment that might have been articulated by a grandmother with the age-old advice, "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all."
As Meghan spoke at length about the perils of the digital age and the responsibilities of digital citizens, all eyes were on Harry, not her. If looks could kill, Meghan might have been in serious trouble. The camera captured Harry rolling his eyes multiple times, his face etched with pure disdain. It seemed evident that Harry is thoroughly disillusioned with his role as a mere accessory in Meghan's relentless quest for relevance. His expression conveyed a mix of anger, embarrassment, and sheer exasperation. It was as if he was coming to grips with the stark reality of how far he has fallen from his once-celebrated life. Gone are the days of thrilling royal duties and global admiration; he now finds himself playing second fiddle in a tour that seems to elicit little interest.
The man who once was the lovable, mischievous bachelor of the royal family now appears to be questioning every decision that led him to this point. The contrast between his past life and current reality is striking. Once, the royal family ensured that Harry was occupied with glamorous, high-profile duties while carefully curating his image as the fun-loving prince. Now, his every flaw—his arrogance, entitlement, and immature behavior—is on full display, stripped of any royal gloss. His discomfort and humiliation were palpable during the forum, where no amount of close cropping could disguise the embarrassingly empty room—a stark reminder of his rapidly fading star power.
While Meghan basked in her self-made spotlight, Harry was relegated to the background, his role reduced to little more than a prop in a performance where he wasn't even mentioned in the speech. This glaring omission further underscored the harsh reality of Meghan's world: in her narrative, he has become virtually invisible. This public humiliation must sting, especially for someone who once enjoyed the adoration and respect that came with being a senior royal. Adding insult to injury, Harry's appearance seemed to fuel the narrative of his decline—his shoes in desperate need of polish and his generally unkempt look only added to the impression of a man in decline, possibly grappling with personal demons.
The once-proud prince now appears to be a shadow of his former self, evoking the image of a divorced man struggling with issues, and the world is taking notice. This tour has shifted focus from promoting digital literacy to highlighting the widening rift between Harry and Meghan. Meghan has clearly positioned herself as the star of this disheartening spectacle, while Harry, the actual prince, is left to grapple with the realization of how things went awry as he begrudgingly plays along. One can only speculate about the questions racing through his mind—particularly why he agreed to this farce in the first place.
