Meghan Markle gave Colombia’s vice president ‘a personal gift’ as she embarked on a four-day quasi-royal tour of Bogotá with Prince Harry (and the politician professes her admiration for Princess Diana!)

Meghan Markle welcomed the Vice President of Colombia with a gift as she and Harry arrived in the country’s capital to begin their four-day, almost royal tour.

The 43-year-old Duchess of Sussex was invited to the country by Vice President Francia Márquez after the politician watched the couple’s two-part Netflix documentary.

When Megan and Harry, 39, greeted Ms. Márquez and her partner, Rafael Yerney Pinillo, they presented them with a personalized gift.

The foursome then had a conversation, during which Ms Márquez reportedly told the former royal dignitaries that she admired Prince Harry’s late mother, Diana, Princess of Wales.

According to Harper’s Bazaarthe four drank tea and coffee at Ms Marquez’s home, with the politician saying she believes she has the same goals as the Sussexes when it comes to creating a safer online world for children.

Meghan and Harry have arrived in Colombia for their four-day visit – landing in the capital Bogota

After the meeting, Harry and Meghan were photographed smiling and holding hands in Bogota.

Meghan, the mother of two, wore a £596 navy collared cardigan from New York brand Veronica Beard.

She teamed her sleeveless, knotted garment with matching navy ankle-length trousers from the designer, which retailed for £349.33.

The The ensemble was paired with black high heels by Manolo Blahnik and a cream $4,700 handbag from Italian company Loro Piana.

The couple have a busy schedule for the coming days during their royal tour, three months after their visit to Nigeria, starting with a visit to the local children’s school, the Colegio Cultura Popular, for a tour and a meeting with the headmaster.

It is their second so-called quasi-royal union, following a trip to Nigeria earlier this year.

Over the next four days, the Sussexes will visit the city of Bogotá before heading to Cartagena and Cali as part of a ‘cultural and social’ visit.

Harry will also meet with members of Team Colombia who are competing in the Invictus Games and preparing for the 2025 Games in Whistler, Canada.

Meghan is pictured embracing Colombian Vice President Francia Márquez, who invited the Sussexes to the country after watching their Netflix documentary

Officials are keeping the route secret because certain parts of the country are considered “best avoided” due to ongoing internal conflict.

Colombia, like Nigeria, is considered a high-risk destination in some respects by the UK Foreign and Development Office.

“FCDO advises against all but essential travel to parts of Colombia,” the government agency said, adding that many armed groups remain active in the country, despite a 2016 peace deal between the government and the revolutionary movement FARC.

Marquez told reporters earlier today that the aim of the visit was to “build bridges and open doors” to address the problem of cyberbullying and online discrimination, especially among young people.

She reportedly told Harry and Meghan on social media that they share the same goals when it comes to safety and mental health.

However, she made no secret of the fact that the trip is intended to showcase Colombia on the world stage, raising fears that the Sussexes are being manipulated to boost the vice president’s reputation after a series of scandals.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro has a 34 percent approval rating among voters and has fired a centrist figure in his cabinet who opposed his expensive health care and pension plans.

Prince Harry shakes hands with the VP as the Sussexes begin their four-day trip to Colombia, arriving in the country’s capital today

Marquez is accused of using helicopters as taxis to shuttle herself to and from work. In the past, when asked why she used them so much, she reportedly said she was the vice president, so “too bad.”

The vice president said the visit had been in the planning for a year, after inviting Meghan to the country a year ago on July 25, International Day of Women of Afro-Descendants.

Meghan made much of her African heritage during her visit to Nigeria with Harry in May this year. It was their first royal tour together in all but name.

Ms Marquez said today: ‘We wanted to invite Meghan, a woman of African descent, to participate in the meeting and share her experiences.

‘We then sent her a letter with an invitation and she responded. The letter said that she could not come, but that she would like to visit our country and get to know it.

‘Since then we have been working for a year to make this visit, which is so important and good, happen.

Ms Marquez reportedly says she shares the same goals as the Sussexes when it comes to creating a safer online world for children.

‘How I met Meghan and Harry, I know from the media, but I especially saw the series on Netflix about her life and her story. That touched me and motivated me to say: this is a woman who deserves to come to our country and tell her story.

‘It will undoubtedly be a confirmation for many women in the world.’

She also said about the visit: ‘I also want to use the media, national and international communications, to invite the world to visit our country.

‘Colombia is a country with enormous cultural wealth, unique biodiversity and strong people who want to move forward.

‘Colombia, the land of beauty, wants to be the best host and it will be.’

For Ms. Marquez, one of the reasons for the trip may be that she sees Meghan as an ally in the fight against cyberbullying.

They were invited to the country by Vice President Francia Marquez (pictured), who was “moved” by Meghan’s story, as told in the Netflix documentary released in 2022.

She is Colombia’s first black vice president and last year a woman was convicted after she went on a racist tirade in which she called Ms Marquez a “monkey”.

According to the Associated Press news agency, the woman, Luz Fabiola Rubiano, said: “Francia Márquez is a monkey… what education can black people have, they steal, attack and kill.” She pleaded guilty to the charges in April 2023.

Ms Marquez claims she was the victim of more than 12,000 racist comments on social media last year.

She told the press conference: ‘I think I’ve been telling the story, the history of racism and racial discrimination since I was a child. I’ve been aware of it since I was 13.

‘Women who are active in politics today are exposed to a level of violence on social networks that undermines our well-being and dignity.’