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A royal expert has claimed that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's actions during their tour of Colombia were fabricated as the pair complete their visit. Richard Fitzwilliams said that everything the Sussexes do appears to be contrived for publicity.
"If you look at Harry and Meghan's tour of Colombia, it did appear to try and mimic some elements of an official royal visit despite no longer being working royals," Fitzwilliams said. The couple spent four days in Colombia at the invitation of the country's Vice President Francia Márquez. They took part in numerous public engagements and met with politicians, activists and community leaders.
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However, the format and scheduling of the tour seemed oddly reminiscent of Harry and Meghan's previous overseas trips as working members of the royal family. On day one, they attended a reception hosted by the UK Ambassador and undertook walkabouts mingling with cheering crowds, just as they would have done on an official visit. The following days were packed with activities centered around the couple's favored causes of women's empowerment, online safety, and environmental and social issues.
"The problem is that if everything they do is just trying to emulate what they used to do as working royals, then it starts to feel a bit inauthentic," Fitzwilliams said. "Rather than focusing so much on photo ops and fancy outfits, they need to find a new genuine way of operating that is unique to them as private citizens."
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Body language expert Judy James agreed, saying Harry and Meghan tried too hard to appear statesman-like. "Their hand gestures and smiles looked very self-consciously 'royal' which just lacked any real emotion or ease," James observed. "At times it looked like they were playing dress-up rather than being truly engaged with the people and causes."
Others also questioned the sincerity of certain elements of the Colombia trip. Vice President Francia Márquez had publicly said she invited the Sussexes because she was impressed by their story in the Netflix documentary. However, this drew skepticism from commentators given the program's embellishments and inaccuracies.
Indeed, the Colombia visit seemed all too strategically staged for maximum positive publicity. Speaking to reporters, Harry emphasized that he was there as a husband and father rather than a prince. But this didn't quite square with the grand receptions and tightly script roles he and Meghan played throughout the tour. The whole thing appeared carefully crafted to present an image without quite completing the full reality of a real royal visit.
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"Whatever their motivations, it can't be denied that they both gave speeches, met charities and seemed genuinely affected by what they saw and heard," said royal biographer Ingrid Seward. "But the trappings of the tour seemed deliberately designed to curry favor and polish their public image on a global scale."
There are also question marks over just how substantive the Sussexes' advocacy efforts in Colombia truly were. While the media coverage focused on photo ops, little was disclosed about any concrete deals, donations or long term programs that may result. Any real impact remains unclear beyond generating warm headlines for Harry and Meghan.
Some experts argue there is nothing wrong with Harry and Meghan utilizing aspects of 'soft power' diplomacy as non-working royals, particularly for causes close to their hearts. However, the line between sincere altruism and self-promotion is blurry, leaving openings for perceptions of calculation. Simply put, many question whether everything is quite as it seems or if aspects are staged more for their brands than sustainable change.
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Moving forwards, one challenge for the Sussexes will be carving out a distinct path that doesn't overly rely on past royal hallmarks or mimic official visits. While convenience and familiarity can be tempting, observers argue more authenticity will be achieved through truly independent initiatives unique to their status and vision, not emulating roles they can no longer fully inhabit. Finding the right balance between causes and perception will be an ongoing process of learning and adjustment.
Overall, the Colombia trip sharpened focus on perceptions of 'fakery' that continue to dog Harry and Meghan’s post-royal lives. While intentions were likely positive, the staged elements risk overshadowing impact and diluting efforts with a scent of self-interest. Only time will tell if future projects can avoid such pitfalls through a distinct approach all their own.
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