Prince Harry couldn’t resist a little dance as he met the kids on the second day of his trip to Colombia, a day after Meghan was filmed excitedly attending a special cultural event.
The 39-year-old Duke and 43-year-old Duchess of Sussex were welcomed by Colombian Vice President Francia Marquez and her husband Rafael Yerney Pinillo after they arrived in the country on Thursday to begin a four-day tour.
That evening, the couple attended an engagement at the Centro Nacional de las Artes Delia Zapata Olivella (CNA), which highlighted the artistry of Bogotá. After being greeted by Minister of Culture Juan David Correa and CNA Director Xiomara Suescún, they were treated to theater, music, and dance performances. A video A video of Meghan dancing with locals went viral.
On Friday morning, the couple visited La Giralda school, in the center of the Santa Fe neighborhood of Bogota, which is considered a particularly dangerous and violent suburb, where they were treated to traditional Colombian music performances that the children had prepared in advance of the couple’s arrival.
Dancing was on the agenda again: Prince Harry was filmed having a dance party.
Meghan was filmed dancing enthusiastically with locals during an engagement on Thursday night
The next day, Prince Harry was spotted performing a shimmy during an engagement in Bogota
As with their other engagements, Meghan and Harry were accompanied by security guards carrying bulletproof briefcases to protect the couple from potential gunmen. At every event they attended, the guard was seen jumping out of a vehicle in front of the couple, holding the collapsible shield.
He was also visible on Friday morning, but his presence did not seem to bother the prince. During the engagement he began to wobble.
Video footage from the event shows the father of two showing off his best dance moves, bending his knees, wobbling his hips and rolling his shoulders and arms.
The bulletproof shield that local security forces are using to protect the couple is known as a ballistic briefcase. It is also being used to protect the country’s vice president, Francia Marquez, who is hosting the visit and has been the target of several assassination attempts.
Security websites describe the ballistic case as a discreet personal protection and a rapidly deployable safety tool.
Its harmless appearance and easy wearing comfort make it the ideal equipment for executives, security guards and VIP bodyguards.
It can be quickly deployed with one hand, providing a significant line of defense against ballistic and fragmentation threats.
The engagement took the couple to Santa Fe, which has been described as Bogota’s red light district for its deadly mix of prostitution, drugs and violence. Locals say it’s best to avoid the area at night.
The prince bent his knees as he swayed his hips and rolled his arms and shoulders during his improvised dance
Despite being surrounded by local security personnel, including one man carrying a bulletproof briefcase, Harry appeared unfazed as he moved along
It was featured in the Apple TV series No Go Zones – The World’s Toughest Places and was described as an area where “Colombian gangsters and pimps rule the roost and all manner of homeless people and addicts find their way to the wastelands of Bogota.”
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were escorted to the school in the Santa Fe district amid tight security, with at least 16 armored police cars and armed officers and soldiers on patrol before they arrived.
They visit the school, which is overshadowed by run-down apartment blocks and several slums that cling to the nearby hills. They visit the school despite Harry’s concerns about his safety measures during his visit to the UK.
During the performance, the couple were greeted by the school’s director, Serafin Ordoñez, after which the Duke and Duchess, together with the country’s Vice President, Francia Marquez, took part in a brief tour.
The couple attended an art session, visited a nursery class and helped the young students plant trees in the school garden.
Later in the day, the couple had a private lunch with Vice President Francia Marquez, after which they met with members of Colombia’s Invictus Games team, which is preparing for the 2025 Games in Whistler, Canada.
At the Centro de Rehabilitacion Inclusiva they met athletes training for the Games, which had been founded by the Duke.
Harry and Meghan didn’t seem concerned about the extra security measures during their visit
The couple was greeted by military officials and then given a tour of the center’s pool, climbing wall and rehabilitation facilities, and spoke with the athletes about their training programs.
“It’s amazing how many people can come together as one team,” Harry told a member of the Invictus team during a tour of the centre’s cardio room. Meghan said it was “great to see the athletes all together.”
They were joined by Colombian Vice President Francia Marquez and her partner Rafael Yerney Pinillo, who took part in the volleyball match with Harry.
After the game, Harry spoke to a group of Korean War veterans. The couple were then given a tour of the center’s art gallery, which featured artwork by Invictus athletes.
Harry’s dance moves during the engagement weren’t the first time he’d let loose during the four-day trip.
During the couple’s first day, on Thursday, the Duke put on a traditional performance and showed off some dance moves.
A security guard was seen holding up the bulletproof shield as Harry and Meghan helped children plant trees in a school garden on Friday
After being welcomed to the country by Colombian Vice President Francia Marquez and her husband Rafael Yerney Pinillo, Harry and Meghan were treated to theatre, music and dance performances at the Delia Zapata National Centre for the Arts in Bogota.
And it looks like Harry was totally into the lively atmosphere as he bounced back and forth between the sidelines and watched his wife show off her impressive dance moves.
The prince seemed in high spirits, clapping his hands and beaming as Meghan joined the dancers in the middle of the room.
He and his wife were treated to a colorful theater performance of the play ‘The Kiss of the Hummingbird’.
Harry watched as the costumes, including the multi-colored headdresses with feathers and exotic birds, were explained to him.
The shield was visible as the couple posed for photos with students at La Giralda School in Bogota’s Santa Fe neighborhood
At the end of the performance, Harry and Meghan shook hands with the dancers. The Duke said to one of them: “These costumes are amazing.”
Harry is known to dance while on tour, and has been spotted showing off his moves on previous trips.
While in Jamaica in 2012, the then 27-year-old royal proved he had a good sense of rhythm when he danced to a version of reggae legend Bob Marley’s One Love.
Meanwhile, in 2013, he was filmed trying to master a traditional dance in Lesotho.
Dressed in jeans and desert boots, the then 28-year-old joined in an impromptu dance session on his knees in the dust.