Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Proceed Colombia Journey in Cartagena

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are exploring a brand new metropolis in Colombia as their worldwide journey continues. 

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex arrived in Cartagena on Aug. 17, the newest leg of their go to to the South American nation. There, the couple visited Escuela Tambores de Cabildo, an area drum college working to protect the artwork type of conventional African drumming. 

Prince Harry, 39, and Meghan, 43, have been welcomed to the hub with the sounds of booming drums and have been greeted by college founder Rafael Ramos. Following a gap efficiency, they heard from members of the area people of all ages in regards to the significance of preserving Cartagena’s tradition, particularly its Afro-Colombian roots.

As a present, one scholar gave the Duke and Duchess of Sussex a small wood boat, a tribute to the coastal metropolis and its seashores. 

Prince Harry and Meghan then joined a student-led drum lesson with Colombian Vice President Francia Márquez and her husband, Rafael Yerney Pinillo. The jam session was adopted by a efficiency from a few of the locals, which introduced Meghan and Márquez to their toes.

Commenting on the Duchess of Sussex’s reactions to the performances, Ramos mentioned in Spanish, “I like seeing Meghan’s huge, huge smile. I can inform she’s excited!”

After the performances, Márquez gave a passionate speech in regards to the significance of custom in preserving Colombian heritage. The vp touched on how cities like Cartagena epitomize Colombian tradition, and the way the artwork type of drumming particularly is a logo of freedom for Black communities all over the world. 

Márquez additionally mentioned that a part of her inspiration to ask Prince Harry and Meghan to Colombia was as a result of she views them as key voices in opposition to injustice. 

“The Duke and Duchess got here to Colombia… that is Colombia. That is the place the roots of our ancestors and our forefathers are from,” the vp advised the gang that included members of her circle of relatives, who she introduced alongside for the occasions. “A group like this can’t be displaced.”

The cease marked the third college that Prince Harry and Meghan have visited throughout their Colombia journey. On Aug. 16, they mentioned the optimistic and destructive results of social media with college students at a constitution college in Bogotá earlier than stepping outdoors for recess, and the next day, the pair practiced their Spanish-speaking expertise whereas visiting a kindergarten class in Santa Fe. Harry requested college students their names and ages within the language, and Meghan introduced up their 5-year-old son, Prince Archie, telling one scholar in Spanish: “You’re the identical age as my son, Archie!”

Later within the day, Prince Harry and Meghan will go to a village with deep African historic significance, emphasizing their dedication to uplifting communities, a key pillar of their Archewell Basis.

Cartagena is a northern port metropolis on the nation’s Caribbean coast and the capital of the Bolívar division. It is likely one of the oldest colonial cities in South America, per Nationwide Geographic, and its walled metropolis is a UNESCO World Heritage web site. The hub within the Caribbean Area is dwelling to only over 1 million individuals, in response to Statista, and the Republic of Colombia’s official tourism web site payments it as “a jewel of world heritage.”

Prince Harry and Meghan started their journey to Colombia within the capital metropolis of Bogotá on Aug. 15, the place they have been welcomed by Márquez, who invited the couple to the nation. The journey’s itinerary highlights a few of their longtime philanthropic pursuits, together with the army group and feminine empowerment.

Márquez introduced on Aug. 1 that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex “have kindly accepted my invitation to go to our stunning nation,” with stops deliberate for Bogotá, Cartagena and Cali.

“In these vibrant areas, they’ll have the distinctive alternative to have interaction with leaders, youth, and ladies who embody the aspirations and voices of Colombians dedicated to progress. Along with these significant interactions, The Duke and Duchess will expertise the wealthy heritage of Colombia,” the vp mentioned partially, noting that they might go to earlier than a key assembly.

On Nov. 7 and eight, the Colombian authorities and different companions will host the inaugural World Ministerial Convention on Ending Violence In opposition to Youngsters in Bogota. The upcoming summit’s goals to create safer on-line areas connects to a key pillar of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s Archewell Basis, Constructing a Higher On-line World.

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Prince Harry and Meghan’s official worldwide journey to Colombia follows their three-day journey to Nigeria in Might.

Nigeria and Colombia each joined the Invictus Video games Group of Nations in 2022 and made their debut on the worldwide adaptive sports activities match for wounded, injured and sick service personnel and veterans, based by Prince Harry, in Düsseldorf final yr. On Aug. 16, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex hung out with the Colombian workforce, the place Harry joined a volleyball match whereas Meghan cheered from the sidelines.

Prince Harry and Meghan’s journey to Nigeria targeted on the Archewell Basis’s psychological well being initiatives for younger individuals and selling the Invictus Video games, and the Duke of Sussex advised PEOPLE that he and his spouse regarded ahead to future journey overseas.

“There’s solely a lot one can do from dwelling and over Zoom, so we look ahead to touring extra as a result of the work issues. Whether or not it is the Archewell Basis, Invictus or any of our different causes, there’ll all the time be causes to satisfy the individuals on the coronary heart of our work,” Prince Harry mentioned.