Prince Harry's 'subtle sign of regr£t' on Colombia tour with Meghan Markle

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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have touched down in Colombia for their four-day tour, holding hands as they greeted the crowds.

The couple arrived in the capital of Bogota on Thursday, August 15, where they were welcomed by Vice President Francia Márquez, and her husband, Rafael Yerney Pinillo.

Meghan wore a £598 Orlinda vest by designer Veronica Beard, while her husband opted for tailored navy suit. The Duchess of Sussex beamed widely as she made her debut, but body language expert Judi James believes there was a discord between the feelings of Meghan and her husband.

She told The Mirror: "Meghan's 'Hey, I'm here!' pose, facial expression and styling put her in full, confident A-lister mode here. Her eye expression registers a level of excitement, with her symmetric smile looking like a nod to a more regal approach, and her way of holding herself is celebrity-infused 'special' and far from casual, relatable and down-to-earth.

"She looks totally in her element, almost as though this is a moment she has been waiting for all her life. Her shoulders are splayed and her elbows tucked into her torso as she carries her large designer bag in one hand and allows her royal husband to tow her along with the other."

But when it comes to Harry, Judi says his expression is more one of hesitance, hinting at complicated feelings surrounding the trip.

"Harry walks ahead in less of a performative mode," she continued. "He forms a polite smile but his expression is a little more tempered and complex. His eye expression looks almost wary which could be natural given that he is a royal without the kind of protocols and even safety nets the Firm will have when they are on proper royal tours."

Indeed, Harry has been vocal over his concerns about security for his family and refuses to travel to the UK after his tax-payer protection was stripped following his departure to the US.

Security was tight today outside children's school, the Colegio Cultura Popular, in Bogota, where they received a tour and informational session by the institution's head, Leonel Umaña Parra, and by José David, a student at the school.

Heavily-armed soldiers could be seen lining the perimeter, while armed police, officers on motorbikes and suited security guards were also present.

Meghan and Harry were invited to Colombia by VP Marquez, and are have a jam-packed schedule that includes meeting leaders and discussing concerns with cyberbullying.

The couple will spend part of their first day doing an Insight Session at a school, which is linked to their work through the Archewell Foundation surrounding the digital world and its effect on young people. They will also take part in a summit involving experts, activists and community members who are working to create more positive online environments.

Harry and Meghan will remain in Bogota on Friday so they can spend time with students to talk about emotional well-being in education. They will attend a luncheon hosted by Vice President Márquez, before meeting with Colombia's Invictus Games competitors.

Colombia became the first South American country to join Prince Harry's sports event for wounded, injured and sick service personnel and veterans, when they competed at the Düsseldorf Invictus Games in September 2023.

The visit marks Prince Harry and Meghan's first joint trip to Colombia, and during their stay they will also visit the cities of Cartagena and Cali.

The couple were invited by Vice President Marquex, who confirmed the news on 1 August. She said: "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 and Meghan's trip comes ahead of the first World Ministerial Conference on the Elimination of Violence Against Children, which is taking place in Colombia in November. The couple'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."