Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Set to Embark on Official Visit to Colombia

“It is hugely important for us to meet directly with people, supporting our causes and listening,” Prince Harry previously told PEOPLE

Photo: Kevin Mazur/Getty

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s next major destination has been revealed.

On August 1, it was announced that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will travel to Colombia for their next official international trip. Dates for the visit have not been released.

The news was shared by Francia Márquez, Colombia’s vice president and the first Black woman to hold the position. Márquez said in a statement: “As the Vice President of Colombia and Minister of Equality and Equity, I am pleased to announce that Prince Harry and Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, have kindly accepted my invitation to visit our beautiful country.”

Prince Harry, 39, and Meghan, 42, are set to visit Bogotá, Cartagena and Cali.

“In these vibrant locations, they will have the exceptional opportunity to engage with leaders, youth, and women who embody the aspirations and voices of Colombians committed to progress,” Márquez said. “In addition to these meaningful interactions, the Duke and Duchess will experience the rich heritage of Colombia.”

Prince Harry and Meghan’s visit comes ahead of the first World Ministerial Conference on the Elimination of Violence Against Children, taking place in Colombia in November. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s Archewell Foundation has a focus in promoting safer digital environments.

Márquez said, “The conference will present a global framework for creating safer physical and virtual spaces, addressing issues such as cyberbullying, online exploitation and the impact of these threats on mental health. It will offer practical solutions and commitments for countries around the world. During their visit, the Duke and Duchess, as well as the Archewell Foundation, will take part in a number of activities related to this important topic.”

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at State Governor House in Lagos, Nigeria on May 12, 2024.KOLA SULAIMON/AFP via Getty

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The announcement follows the couple’s official visit to Nigeria three months ago, where they focused on mental health advocacy and promoting the Invictus Games.

Their upcoming trip to South America will be Harry and Meghan’s first official visit to Colombia together, representing their Archewell Foundation. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex founded the nonprofit after stepping back from their royal roles in the U.K. in 2020, focusing on uplifting communities, building a better online world and restoring trust in information.

During the coronavirus pandemic, the Archewell Foundation invested in The People’s Vaccine Alliance, a global coalition of over 100 organizations working to provide COVID-19 vaccines, tests and treatments for all. Archewell’s contribution funded advocacy campaigns for vaccine equity in countries including Colombia.

The couple further worked with Global Citizen on other initiatives around vaccine access and that advocacy helped to procure 12.66 million COVID vaccine doses around the world, according to the Archewell Foundation’s 2020-2022 Impact Report.

While in Colombia, Meghan may display her Spanish-speaking skills. The Duchess of Sussex learned the language while interning at the U.S. Embassy in Buenos Aires, Argentina, after double-majoring in theater and international Northwestern University.

Colombia also has ties to Prince Harry’s Invictus Games. It became the first South American country to join the Invictus Games Community of Nations in 2022. Colombia made its debut at the sixth cycle of the international adaptive sports tournament for wounded, injured and sick service personnel and veterans in Düsseldorf, Germany, in September 2023.

Prince Harry, a former captain in the British Army, created the competition in 2014, and Colombia joined the Invictus movement at the same time as Nigeria, which the Duke and Duchess of Sussex significantly visited in May.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle (center) pose for a photo during the Mixed Team Gold Medal match between Team Colombia and Team Poland at the Invictus Games on Sept. 15, 2023 in Duesseldorf, Germany.Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty

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Prince Harry and Meghan traveled to Nigeria in the spring for what marked their first official international trip since moving to the U.S. and settling in her home state of California. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were invited by Nigeria’s Chief of Defense Staff, the country’s highest-ranking military official.

The itinerary highlighted the Archewell Foundation’s mental health initiatives for young people and promoted the Invictus Games, which the African country participated in for the first time in Düsseldorf. The trip was especially sentimental for the Duchess of Sussex, who previously learned through a genealogy test that she is 43% Nigerian.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle visit Lightway Academy in Abuja, Nigeria on May 10, 2024.Andrew Esiebo/Getty

Speaking to PEOPLE on the three-day tour, Prince Harry told PEOPLE that making personal connections on the ground meant everything to him and Meghan in their ongoing work.

“It is hugely important for us to meet directly with people, supporting our causes and listening, in order to bring about solutions, support and positive change,” Prince Harry said.

Looking to the future, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex also anticipated more travel opportunities to further their initiatives.

“There’s only so much one can do from home and over Zoom, so we look forward to traveling more because the work matters. Whether it’s the Archewell Foundation, Invictus or any of our other causes, there will always be reasons to meet the people at the heart of our work,” Prince Harry said.