Prince Harry ‘wants to elevate Meghan Markle to the status she has been accorded’ with their quasi-royal tour of Colombia, a royal travel author has claimed.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will travel to the South American country later this week at the invitation of Colombian Vice President Francia Marquez.
The couple, who stepped down from royal duties in January 2020 and moved to Montecito, California, also visited Nigeria earlier this year on a royal-style trip.
Ahead of the couple’s visit to Colombia, royal author Anna Pasternak drew comparisons to the Duke and Duchess of Windsor’s infamous trip to Germany in 1937, less than a year after the abdication crisis.
Speaking with The Telegraphas the expert explained: ‘They accepted [the invitation] because Edward felt so hurt and angry about the way Wallis had been rejected by the royal family and he was eager to give her the pomp and circumstance of a royal tour.
Pictured: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in Abuja in May 2024 as part of their quasi-royal Nigeria tour
‘He wanted Wallis to be addressed as HRH and for people to bow to her. I’m not suggesting that Harry wants the pomp and circumstance of a royal tour, but there is a sense that he [to elevate] Meghan to the status that has been given to her.’
Additionally, the author, who wrote Princess in Love and The American Duchess, noted that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle “really value the approval of the people in the country they’re visiting.”
Anna added: “They can go and be honored in their own way.”
The trip will allow Meghan, who celebrated her 43rd birthday on Sunday, to show off her fluent Spanish, which she learned at a private school in Los Angeles and perfected while interning at the U.S. Embassy in Argentina.
However, many Colombians see the Sussexes’ visit as a cynical attempt by the government to use the attractive couple as “political pawns” to distract from a series of scandals plaguing the regime.
A prominent Bogota lawyer told The Mail on Sunday: ‘I’m sure Meghan and Harry mean well, but everyone here is talking about how clearly they are being manipulated.
“Of course their star power will be used to draw attention to poor people and certain cultural areas in Colombia… but the reality is that the Colombian government has been drowning in scandal since it took office two years ago. They need something to please people at home and make them look good abroad.”
Vice President Marquez’s office said yesterday that the trip would begin on Thursday, but declined to provide further details.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex (pictured) will travel to the South American country later this week after being invited by Colombian Vice President Francia Marquez
Royal expert Anna Pasternak said of the couple’s trip to Colombia: “They can go there and be honored in their own way.”
Earlier this week it was announced that the couple’s new chief of staff had resigned after just three months.
When the Duke of Sussex appointed Josh Kettler as his Chief of Staff earlier this year, he was said to be the perfect man to ‘steer Harry through his next phase’.
However, the Daily Mail has learned that Mr Kettler suddenly quit his job after just three months.
“Josh Kettler no longer works for them,” a source in California told this newspaper today.
In May, Mr Kettler accompanied Harry on his visit to London to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games, the sporting event the Prince founded for wounded and sick servicemen.
Ahead of the couple’s visit to Colombia, royal author Anna Pasternak drew comparisons to the Duke and Duchess of Windsor’s infamous trip to Germany in 1937 – less than a year after the abdication crisis
Prince Harry and Meghan with Mr Kettler (circled) at their side. His role during the visit is said to be a foretaste of what he would achieve in the future
The couple are expected to stay in the Presidential Suite at the Sofitel Legend Hotel in Cartagena (pictured) which costs £2,500 a night.
Mr Kettler was seen entering St Paul’s Cathedral with the Duke for the Jubilee service, which was attended by Harry’s uncle, Earl Spencer, but no other members of the Royal Family.
Later that month, Mr Kettler was a key figure on the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s three-day ‘tour’ of Nigeria, standing by Harry’s side as he met government officials in the West African country. His role during the visit was said to be a foretaste of what he would achieve in the future.
Mr Kettler’s short tenure in the role underscores the difficulties the Duke and Duchess have faced in retaining staff.
The total number of people the Sussexes have lost since their marriage in 2018 is said to be at least 18. Since moving to California in 2020, nine or more have left.
Yesterday, a former staff member told the Daily Mail: ‘What is perhaps most telling is that in the entire time I worked there, I never heard a single current or former employee say that they would take the job again if given the chance.
‘These are not workers who were just picked up off the street.
“Many of them are people who have a history of performing under demanding bosses in high-performance companies and environments.” Mr Kettler, who is thought to be American, previously worked at Cognixion, a medical device manufacturer.
The Daily Mail Diary reported in April that the Duchess of Sussex had failed to find a CEO for her new cooking and lifestyle company, American Riviera Orchard, despite interviewing several candidates.
Meghan hopes the brand, which focuses on home, garden, food and lifestyle products, will be very lucrative.