Royals on Tour

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Receive a Warm, Cheesy Welcome to Kick Off Colombia Trip

The duke and duchess shared pandebono, a traditional cheese-filled bread, with the country’s Vice President Francia Márquez.
Image may contain Plant Potted Plant Flower Flower Arrangement Adult Person Wedding Flower Bouquet and Clothing
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, hugs Colombia’s Vice President Francia Márquez during a meeting at her official residence.Photo by Eric Charbonneau for Archewell.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle kicked off a tour of Colombia Thursday morning, starting their day with a visit to the office of Vice President Francia Márquez in Bogotá.

Upon arrival, the couple was greeted with hugs and a taste of pandebono, the country’s traditional cheese-filled bread. Márquez and her partner, Rafael Yerney Pinillo, visited with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex for a half-hour, where they discussed the purpose of the couple’s visit, their commitment to online safety and raising awareness about the potential harms of social media.

In November, Márquez will host the world’s first Global Ministerial Conference on Ending Violence Against Children, which will highlight online safety, and during Thursday’s meeting, she told the couple that she believes they share the same goals when it comes to championing mental health and a better, safer digital future for children. According to Harper’s Bazaar, Márquez also told Harry of her admiration for his late mother, Princess Diana.

In a CBS interview that aired on August 4, Meghan explained that becoming a mother helped inspire her decision to focus on the issue of the effects that the internet can have on children. “Our kids are younger, three and five, and they’re amazing,” she said. “But all you want to do as parents is protect them, so as we can see what is happening in the online space, we know there’s a lot of work to be done there and we’re just happy to be a part of change for good.”

For the outing, Meghan wore a sleeveless navy top and matching slacks by Veronica Beard, along with black suede Manolo Blahnik heels, a white handbag by Loro Piana. Following the meeting with the vice president, Harry and Meghan headed to the Colegio Cultura Popular, a local school where they planned to meet with students and discuss the impact of the digital world on young people with the schools headmaster.