Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will visit Colombia for four days following the success of their unofficial tour of Nigeria – after declaring the UK too dangerous to visit.
Harry, 39, said he will not bring Meghan back to his home country without state-funded personal security because he fears a “knife or acid attack”.
The couple were invited to Colombia by Vice President Francia Marquez, but the exact details of the trip, which will be undertaken in their capacity as private citizens, is not known.
While the trip is not a royal tour, it will serve a similar purpose, and Ms Marquez said the visit will “illuminate Colombia’s role as a beacon of culture and innovation”.
Colombia, which has more than halved its murder rate since its 90s peak, continues to struggle with crime, kidnapping and civil unrest.
This comes after a friend of the duke claimed Harry’s calls to King Charles are “going answered”, People magazine reports.
Harry, 39, has not seen the monarch since the announcement of his cancer diagnosis in February.
Key Points
- Harry and Meghan to visit Colombia on latest unofficial tour
- Prince Harry’s calls to King Charles ‘go unanswered'
- Kate Middleton’s ‘hardest’ moment with Meghan Markle revealed
- Meghan Markle told Prince William to ‘get your finger out of my face'
- Prince Harry fears for Meghan's safety after bad press
Prince Harry describes the internet as ‘terrifying’ in new interview
11:00
Emma Guinness
Prince Harry has described the internet as “terrifying” in a new interview with Meghan Markle about the challenges young people face in a digital world.
The interview is set to air in full this weekend on CBS Sunday Morning, but a teaser clip was shared to social media yesterday (1 August).
Harry said: “At this point we’ve got to the stage where almost every parent needs to be a first responder, and even the best first responders in the world wouldn’t be able to tell the signs of possible suicide.
“That is the terrifying piece of this.”
The couple are taking part in a new initiative to support the parents of children affected by the problem.
Colombian Vice President celebrates upcoming Harry and Meghan tour
10:38
Emma Guinness
The vice preident of Colombia has provided an insight into Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s upcoming unofficial tour.
Vice president Francia Marquez will travel with the couple on the trip that is expected to last around four days.
Ms Marquez said in a statement: “During their trip, the duke and duchess will join me in visiting Bogota, as well as the Caribbean and Pacific regions of 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.
“In addition to these meaningful interactions, the duke and duchess will experience the rich heritage of Colombia.”
Harry and Meghan to visit Colombia on latest unofficial tour
09:15
Emma Guinness
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have accepted an invitation to undertake an unofficial tour of Colombia later this summer.
While this is not a royal tour, it will have many hallmarks of one and Vice President Francia Marquez said the four-day visit will “illuminate Colombia’s role as a beacon of culture and innovation”.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will be undertaking their visit as private citizens after stepping down as working royals in 2020 citing press intrusion and a desire to live a more independent life.
During the visit to Columbia, they will reportedly meet with young people and youth leaders.
They are expected to visit the capital of Bogotá and the regions of Cartagena and Cali.
This comes after the couple’s recent unofficial tour of Nigeria earlier this year, which celebrated the 10th anniversary of Harry’s Invictus Games.
Prince Harry wants children to feel ‘at home’ in UK
08:00
Emma Guinness
Prince Harry said he wants his children to feel “at home” in the UK but cannot do this without the reinstatement of his taxpayer-funded security.
The Duke of Sussex, 39, said at a High Court hearing: “The UK is central to the heritage of my children and a place I want them to feel at home, as much as where they live at the moment in the United States.
“That cannot happen if it’s not possible to keep them safe when they are on UK soil. I cannot put my wife in danger like that and, given my experiences in life, I am reluctant to unnecessarily put myself in harm’s way too.”
Harry was stripped of the protection after stepping down as a working royal in 2020.
No royals at Sandringham Flower Show for first time in 30 years
06:00
Emma Guinness
The royal family was noticeably absent from the Sandringham Flower Show on Wednesday, marking the first time they have missed the event in 30 years.
Graham Brown, the event’s chairman, said: “It’s disappointing that the King has prior engagements but the people are here to see the show.”
This comes amid King Charles’s vision for a dramatically slimmed-down monarchy in light of the UK’s current economic challenges.
Why Prince Louis is kept away from the spotlight
04:00
Emma Guinness
Prince Louis was notably absent from recent royal appearances at Wimbledon, the Euros and Taylor Swift’s The Era’s Tour.
Now, one royal expert has weighed in on why Louis, six, is kept out of the spotlight – and it is not his mischievous behaviour.
Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams told the Express: “Obviously Prince George is chosen for certain events because of his age and status.
“Clearly Charlotte is also. Louis is the youngest and William and Catherine take care to keep a balance between the privacy which is essential and the obvious desire to see all their children.”
He added: “Also the younger the children are, the more likely they are to make a face and steal the show! The press love this, but it is a diversion from the main event.”
Thomas Markle birthday fundraiser continues to grow
02:00
Emma Guinness
A fundraiser for the “rejected and abandoned” Thomas Markle has now raised over £47,000 to mark the 80th birthday of the Duchess of Sussex’s father.
The pair fell out around her 2018 wedding to Prince Harry over a staged paparazzi photoshoot.
Ahead of the milestone birthday, Mr Markle said that his one “wish” was for his daughter to reconnect with him and give him the opportunity to meet his grandchildren. It appears to have gone unanswered.
Organised by British socialite Lady Colin Campbell, she wrote that the GoFundMe was set up to remind Mr Markle “there are still people in the world with good hearts, good values, and good intentions.”
Prince Harry reaches out to Spencer family after uncle’s death
Friday 2 August 2024 00:00
Emma Guinness
Prince Harry has reached out to the Spencer family after his uncle Lord Robert Fellowes passed away this week.
The Duke of Sussex, 39, is reported to have reached out to his aunt, cousins and the Earl Spencer, Us Weekly reports.
The Earl Spencer led tributes to Lord Fellowes, 82, when his death was announced on Wednesday, writing on Twitter/X: “My absolutely exceptional brother-in-law, Robert, is no longer with us.
“A total gentleman – in all the best meanings of that word – he was a man of humour, wisdom & utter integrity. I’m deeply proud to have been his brother-in-law.”
Prince Harry will end royal feud on one condition, friend claims
Thursday 1 August 2024 20:00
Emma Guinness
Prince Harry will put his “swords down” in his ongoing feud with the royal family if he has his family’s taxpayer-funded security reinstated, a friend has said.
“[Nothing] would give [Harry] more happiness than being able to rekindle his bond with his father. At the end of the day, you can’t undo bloodlines,” they told People magazine.
“He’s not asking his dad for a nicer house or nicer cars. He’s asking because of the reality of the situation. He is at risk.”
The Duke of Sussex, who turns 40 next month, has not seen King Charles since February.
Harry and Meghan reveal safety fears for Archie and Lilibet
Thursday 1 August 2024 16:24
Emma Guinness
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have said that they are concerned about the safety of their children online.
In an interview with CBS Sunday morning, set to air on 4 August, they said they are hoping to affect change in this area.
Meghan says: “Our kids are young, they are three and five, and they are amazing, but all you want to do is to protect them, and as you can see what is happening in the online space, we know there is a lot of work there and hope we can be a part of change there.”
Coronation boosts visitor numbers to palaces
Thursday 1 August 2024 16:00
Emma Guinness
King Charles’s coronation last May had a significant impact on boosting visitor numbers to royal palaces, the Royal Collection Trust has revealed.
The trust’s annual report recorded an income of £84.3 million.
Tim Knox, director of the Royal Collection, said: “The coronation had a significant impact on our visitor numbers as we saw a heightened public interest in visiting the royal residences and high demand for our retail ranges.
“Visitor numbers were also strengthened by two highly acclaimed exhibitions at the Queen’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace: Style & Society: Dressing the Georgians and Holbein at the Tudor Court.
“These successes contributed to a record level of income this year, firmly securing our ongoing financial recovery following the pandemic.”
Prince Harry believes King Charles is the ‘only person’ who can solve security issues
Thursday 1 August 2024 15:00
Emma Guinness
Prince Harry reportedly believes that King Charles is the only person with the power to solve his ongoing personal security concerns.
In a recent interview for ITV’s Tabloids on Trial, the Duke of Sussex said he will not bring his wife and children to the UK because he fears a “knife or acid” attack inspired by negative Tabloid Stories.
Harry and Meghan were stripped of their taxpayer-funded personal security in the UK after stepping down as working royals in 2020.
“Harry is frightened and feels the only person who can do anything about it is his father,” a royal source told People magazine.
“Harry is determined to protect his own family at all costs.”
Kate Middleton’s ‘most important role'
Thursday 1 August 2024 14:00
Emma Guinness
The “most important role” of the Princess of Wales has been revealed in a new biography.
According to royal author Rob Jobson, this job was made clear to the late Queen Elizabeth prior to Kate’s marriage into The Firm.
“[Kate] established some fundamental life rules that she would stick to when she joined The Firm,” Jobson wrote.
“Her ‘terms’ were in fact presented to Queen Elizabeth and Prince Charles… he was clear from the outset that she would not be pigeon-holed into carrying out particular duties…her priority, she emphasized, would always be her family.”
Jobson added of her life with Prince William: “The royal couple will of course carry out their fair share of royal duties.
“But they both believe that being good parents is their most important role.”
Kate Middleton almost followed in Camilla’s footsteps
Thursday 1 August 2024 13:00
Emma Guinness
Kate Middleton almost followed in Camilla’s footsteps and declined the Princess of Wales title, a new biography has claimed.
Royal author Rob Jobson wrote: “She knew she’d inevitably be compared with Diana, whose untimely death had provoked such a tsunami of anger and grief. And she was right.
“Kate found all such talk stressful. Indeed, it got to the point where she felt she might follow Camilla (who opted to become Duchess of Cornwall) in refusing – when the time came – to be known as HRH Princess of Wales.”
However, when the time came to accept the title, the princess realised that she would be able to accept it.
“Enough time had passed to make the title more palatable, and Catherine had been on the world stage long enough to be appreciated for her own qualities,” Jobson added.
Camilla, meanwhile, chose to be known as the Duchess of Cornwall after marrying the then-Prince Charles in 2005.
Harry and Meghan make major decision about future UK home
Thursday 1 August 2024 11:00
Emma Guinness
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been reported in recent weeks to be looking for a new home in the UK and now they have made a major decision.
This was prompted by the Duke of Sussex’s ongoing personal security concerns after he and his wife were stripped of taxpayer-funded protection when they stepped down as working royals in 2020.
“Harry really does want to spend more time in the UK but doesn’t feel comfortable doing that until the security issues have been ironed out,” a source told the Express.
“He and Meghan planned on looking for a part-time home near Windsor this year and hoped that the appeals process would be heard before the end of July so that they could properly start their search. However, the court process seems to be taking its time.”
Prince Harry’s calls to King Charles ‘go unanswered'
Thursday 1 August 2024 09:27
Emma Guinness
King Charles is reportedly ignoring phone calls from Prince Harry, a friend of the Duke of Sussex has claimed.
The monarch’s apparent feud with his youngest son has allegedly been worsened by his ongoing battle to have his taxpayer-funded security reinstated.
Harry recently told ITV that he will not bring Meghan Markle to the UK because he fears “a knife or acid attack”.
A friend told People magazine that Harry is being ignored because of his ongoing personal security battle to regain taxpayer-funded protection.
“His calls go unanswered,” they said. “He has tried to reach out about the King’s health, but those calls go unanswered too.”
Prince Harry’s £7 million inheritance ‘a small bonus’ to duke and Meghan
Thursday 1 August 2024 09:00
Emma Guinness
Prince Harry is set to receive an estimated £7 million inheritance from the late Queen Mother when he turns 40 next month.
However, an expert has said that while this money would be life-changing for most people, it will be a “small bonus” to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
Former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond told OK! magazine: “For most of us, an inheritance of several million pounds would be utterly life-changing... for Harry and Meghan, it will be a small bonus compared to their commercial earnings.
“Nevertheless, I’m sure it will be greatly appreciated by Harry who, I’m sure, has nothing but fond memories of his great grandmother… or Gan Gan as he called her.”
The Queen Mother passed away in 2002 at the age of 101.
Meghan Markle ‘wishes Harry could let go of lawsuits’
Thursday 1 August 2024 08:12
Emma Guinness
Meghan Markle “wishes” Prince Harry would let go of his ongoing legal battles, an insider has claimed.
The former Archewell Foundation employee said that while the former Suits star “supports” her husband, she believes his attempts to get justice from the tabloid press prevent him from living in the moment.
“[Meghan] supports Harry 100 per cent, but she wishes he could let go of these lawsuits, be happy and live in the moment,” they told People magazine.
“She wants him to be free of all of this, but she also knows that because of everything he’s been through and his love for [her and their children], he can’t.
“She wants him to live in a world where he is not burdened by this.”
The Duke of Sussex recently told ITV that he will not bring his wife to the UK because he fears an “acid or knife” attack inspired by negative tabloid stories.
Kate Middleton ‘received note’ from Prince Harry after Wimbledon appearance
Thursday 1 August 2024 06:00
Emma Guinness
Prince Harry reached out to the Princess of Wales after her jubilant appearance at Wimbledon.
The Duke of Sussex, 39, is said to have sent a note to his sister-in-law, who received a standing ovation as she took her place in the Royal Box with Princess Charlotte.
“Harry was watching Wimbledon and was thrilled to see Kate looking so radiant,” a source told Heat magazine.
“He sent her a note to congratulate her and let her know how happy he was to see her out. He’s just so grateful that she’s on the mend and able to get back to her duties after taking time off – as is Meghan.”
The princess, 42, has been largely absent from public life as she battles an undisclosed form of cancer.
Prince Harry 'has been been hard done by’
Thursday 1 August 2024 04:00
Emma Guinness
Prince Harry “has been hard done by” with his ongoing personal security battle, an expert has claimed.
Alex Bomberg, chief executive of Intelligent Protection International, said that the decision to remove taxpayer-funded security from the prince should be reviewed.
While no longer a working royal, Bomberg has said Harry remains at risk because of his high profile.
“I still think he’s been hard done by. Whichever way you want to look at it, he’s still who he is. He’s still born into the royal family,” Bomberg told Newsweek.
“In my view, it’s still very difficult to make an argument against. He’s not a working royal – well, the threat doesn’t really go away.”
Prince Harry’s friend ‘unsure’ of match with Meghan Markle
Thursday 1 August 2024 02:00
Emma Guinness
One of Prince Harry’s friends is reported to have been “unsure” of his relationship with Meghan Markle.
This comes amid fresh claims in Rob Jobson’s new book that Prince William asked his younger brother to “cool” the relationship to give Meghan more time to adjust to royal life.
Omid Scobie wrote in Endgame that Harry’s friend, Tom “Skippy” Inskip, shared these concerns, revealing: “Not everyone felt as sure of this match as Harry did.
“A month after his own wedding, Skippy sat down with his childhood friend to voice a concern: Harry and Meghan were moving too quickly.”
Prince Harry accused William of trying to ‘wreck’ his relationship
Thursday 1 August 2024 00:00
Emma Guinness
Following the revelations that Prince William urged Prince Harry to “cool” his relationship with Meghan Markle in the new biography of the Princess of Wales, Harry’s brutal response has been revealed.
The heir to the throne, who dated his wife for the best part of decade, allegedly told his brother that it would be wise to give Meghan more time to adjust to royal life before committing, Rob Jobson claimed.
Emily Andrews, royal correspondent at The Sun, claims that in response to this, Harry said: “You’re trying to wreck this relationship before it’s even started.”
Harry and Meghan announced their engagement a year after their relationship became public knowledge.
New government releases statement on Prince Harry’s UK security concerns
Wednesday 31 July 2024 22:00
Emma Guinness
The new Labour government has released its first statement about Prince Harry’s ongoing security concerns.
This comes after the Duke of Sussex, 39, recently told ITV that he will not bring Meghan Markle to the UK because he fears a “knife or acid attack”.
The couple were stripped of their taxpayer-funded security after stepping down as working royals in 2020.
A government spokesperson told Newsweek: “The UK government’s protective security system is rigorous and proportionate.
“It is our long-standing policy not to provide detailed information on those arrangements, as doing so could compromise their integrity and affect individuals’ security.
“It would not be appropriate to comment on ongoing legal proceedings.”
Expert says Harry and Meghan should get taxpayer-funded security
Wednesday 31 July 2024 20:00
Emma Guinness
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle should get taxpayer-funded security when they are in the UK, an expert has claimed.
The couple were stripped of the protection when they stepped down as working royals in 2020.
Prince Harry has been fighting since then to have the security reinstated, claiming that he does not believe the UK is safe for his wife without it.
“I’m an advocate for him getting police protection,” Alex Bomberg, chief executive of Intelligent Protection International, told Newsweek. “I think it’s something that should be reviewed.
“Has the risk level changed? No, probably not. But could they reconsider it? Should they reconsider it? Potentially yes.”
Sandringham announces completion of major project
Wednesday 31 July 2024 18:00
Emma Guinness
Sandringham estate has announced the completion of its impressive new maze garden days after King Charles’s most recent visit.
The estate did so on its official Instagram account with an aerial video of the maze, showing it its scale.
The post reads: “Following His Majesty The King’s vision to bring horticulture to the fore in the Gardens, August sees the completion of ‘The Lower Maze Garden’ – an intricate new maze garden celebrating formal geometry and cosmological symbolism.
“Both The Topiary Garden and Lower Maze Garden have transformed the former West Lawn developing, enhancing and expanding blank canvas areas.”
King Charles all smiles in Scotland
Wednesday 31 July 2024 17:00
Emma Guinness
King Charles was pictured smiling in a kilt while celebrating the UK’s latest world heritage site in Scotland.
“As the world’s first peatland World Heritage Site, @TheFlowCountry is an important defence against climate change,” the official Royal Family Twitter/X account explained.
The monarch has been a passionate advocate of enviornmental causes for decades.
Kate and William mark World Ranger Day
Wednesday 31 July 2024 16:00
Emma Guinness
The Prince and Princess of Wales have praised the work of park rangers this World Ranger Day (31 July).
Taking to Twitter/X, they wrote: “Honouring the incredible rangers who protect our planet’s wildlife and natural habitats today, and everyday.
“These unsung heroes work tirelessly to ensure the survival of countless species and the conservation of our environment.”
Kate Middleton snubbed from best-dressed list
Wednesday 31 July 2024 15:00
Emma Guinness
The Princess of Wales was snubbed from Tatler’s 2024 best dressed list and beaten by Princess Beatrice.
Beatrice, 35, was named the UK’s best dressed woman and praised for being “a beacon of sartorial elegance, pairing vintage-inspired cuts with fresh-from-the-catwalk glamour.”
King Charles tours world heritage peat bog
Wednesday 31 July 2024 13:45
Emma Guinness
King Charles will today tour a peat bog that recently received world heritage status after arriving in Scotland.
The monarch, famed for his environmental work, will meet with several people including Heritage chiefs at UNESCO and learn more about the site at Forsinard Flows in Sutherland.
He will learn why the bog, which stores an estimated 400 million tones of carbon dioxide, works as a “centre of excellence” for research.
Kate Middleton’s ‘hardest’ moment with Meghan Markle revealed
Wednesday 31 July 2024 13:00
Emma Guinness
The Princess of Wales’s “hardest” moment with the Duchess of Sussex took place in the wake of the late Queen’s death, a new biography has revealed.
It look place after Meghan, now 42, was reportedly banned from travelling to Balmoral at the time of the monarch’s passing.
Royal author Rob Jobson wrote: “Amid all the grief at the Queen’s death, William, now Prince of Wales and heir to the throne, took decisive action.
“Picking up the phone to Harry, he suggested that they and their wives put on a show of unity for the sake of their late grandmother by viewing the floral tributes at Windsor together. Harry accepted.
“The resulting images suggested they’d all slipped back into their Fab Four routine, but Catherine later admitted to a member of the Royal Family that such was the extent of ill-feeling between the couples, the walkabout had been the hardest thing she’d ever had to do.”
King Charles arrives at Scottish castle alone
Wednesday 31 July 2024 12:00
Emma Guinness
King Charles is set to begin his summer break in Scotland alone at the castle of Mey in the Highlands.
The monarch, who is currently undergoing treatment for an undisclosed type of cancer, will then travel to Balmoral in Aberdeenshire to spend time with his family.
“Charles will spend the next 10 days or so at the castle [of Mey] until he joins the rest of the family at Balmoral,” an insider explained, as reported by the Express.
“It’s something he does every year to regroup, unwind and plan for discussions he will have with members of the Royal Family when they meet at Balmoral.”
He arrived at the residence today but shows no signs of stopping work yet and will undertake an environmental engagement at a peat bog this afternoon.
Kate Middleton’s ‘priority’ has always been her family
Wednesday 31 July 2024 11:00
Emma Guinness
The Princess of Wales presented the late Queen with her “terms” before officially agreeing to join the royal family, royal author Rob Jobson has claimed in his new biography.
Kate, 42, was in a relationship with Prince William for the best part of a decade before they finally tied the not in 2011 and well-aware of the demands of being in The Firm.
Jobson wrote that she “established some fundamental life rules that she would stick to when she joined The Firm.
“Her ‘terms’ were in fact presented to Queen Elizabeth and Prince Charles.
“She was clear from the outset that she would not be pigeon-holed into carrying out particular duties.
“Her priority, she emphasised, would always be her family.”
Lord Robert Fellowes dies at 82
Wednesday 31 July 2024 10:46
