Ex-courtier takes swipe at Harry and Meghan's Colombia tour as William's reaction exposed
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's visit to Colombia has previously been criticised for its cost and overall impact
A former courtier has slammed Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's recent four-day of Colombia, claiming it showed "utter contempt for the King".
Harry and Meghan, who famously stepped down as working royals in January 2020 before relocating to California in June of that year, arrived in the South American nation on Thursday, August 15.
Criticism was levelled at the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s trip by Senator Maria Fernanda Cabal, who slammed the exercise as “Royal wasteful spending”, reported Semana.
Figures suggested that their trip cost the country around £6,500 a day with The Sussexes given a full security detail throughout their visit alongside Colombia’s vice-president Francia Marquez, who invited the couple after being moved by their Netflix documentary.
Royal biographer Emily Andrews wrote in Woman magazine that those inside Buckingham Palace were confused by the trip, with some asking "why did they go?".
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A former courtier told the biographer that the tour showed the "utter contempt" that the couple have for the King and for "royal protocol."
They said: "These tours have always been about diplomacy, promoting Britain abroad, building bridges and putting the UK's interests first.
"The Sussexes do not represent this country, they only represent their own self-interest, yet they still appear to portray themselves as British royals. It's disgraceful and shows why the real royals want to keep as far away from them as possible."
During the trip, Meghan spoke at an event highlighting Afro women and revealed how her young daughter’s personality is taking shape. Harry and Meghan took part in the forum paying tribute to the contributions of Afro-Colombian women, leaders and entrepreneurs alongside vice president Francia Marquez on Sunday.
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The couple also visited the Escuela Tambores de Cabildo, a music school in Cartagena, the second largest city in the Caribbean coastal region after the Duke of Sussex joined in a game of volleyball on a visit to Colombian Invictus Games athletes in Bogota.
Earlier this year, The Times reported that the Duke of Sussex was willing to step into a temporary royal role while King Charles underwent cancer treatment.
This was rejected by Buckingham Palace, with Ms Andrews reporting that Windsor eyebrows were "somewhat raised" to see Harry and Meghan "effectively carving out an international platform for themselves with these royal-type tours".
She wrote: "For William, it is the Sussex circus and he has had enough of it - he's tired of the furore and the nonsense."
