According to reports, Meghan and Harry recently visited a public school in Bogotá, Colombia. The school, Colegio Leal, is located in the town of Santa Fe, where the couple interacted with young students. During the visit, Prince Harry reportedly asked the children their names and ages in Spanish, while Meghan expressed delight upon discovering that one of the children was the same age as their son, Archie.
However, their visit quickly attracted criticism on social media. Some Twitter users accused the couple of misleading the children. Rumors circulated that the children had been informed that Colombian footballer James Rodriguez would be visiting them, only to be surprised by Meghan and Harry's arrival instead. Critics argued that this was a deliberate act of deception intended to enhance the couple's public image at the expense of the children. The Twitter account Royal Gossip UK fueled these accusations, stating, "Harry and Meghan deceived school children in Colombia. The kids were told footballer James Rodriguez would visit, but the Sussexes showed up instead. It's disgraceful to lie to underprivileged kids for self-promotion."
Further controversy emerged from another Twitter user, Harry's Gray Suit, who suggested that the entire event might have been staged. "There’s no way this sweet little girl would have reacted as she did unless someone showed her how and told her to. If adults want to participate in this circle, that's fine, but exploiting children for PR is disgusting," the tweet read. This sentiment was echoed by others who accused the couple of using the children for publicity.
Another Twitter comment criticized Meghan directly, accusing her of misleading the children about her royal status. The comment read, "What mentally deranged and insecure 58-year-old brags to poverty-stricken school children that she's a real-life princess? Nothing like forcing your way into a classroom full of underage children after lying to them about a football star coming to visit, only to have an escort who thinks she’s a princess."
Royal expert Victoria Murphy also harshly criticized the visit, calling it aimless and poorly executed. In an interview with The Sun’s royal editor Matt Wilkinson, Murphy argued that Meghan and Harry's trip seemed out of touch and lacked a clear purpose. She contrasted their visit with that of Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh, who recently met with Colombian Vice President Francia Márquez. Murphy noted that Sophie's visit was seen as a clear representation of British interests, while Meghan and Harry’s appeared to lack substantial alignment with a meaningful message.
Murphy also criticized the trip for its disconnect with the everyday concerns of Colombians. Although the stated aims were to address cyberbullying and promote women’s leadership, these issues might not resonate with a population grappling with immediate concerns like poverty and crime. In a country where nearly half of the population lives on less than $100 a month, high-level social issues might seem out of touch.
Adding to the controversy, Murphy noted that Meghan and Harry’s involvement in their charity, Archewell Foundation, appeared lackluster. She pointed out that their commitment seemed superficial, with the foundation reportedly receiving minimal attention or effort from the couple. "It’s hard to see how everything fits together," Murphy observed, suggesting that Harry and Meghan would benefit from being more focused and clearer about what they represent.
