Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet to miss out as ex-royal bodyguard gives brutal verdict
Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet likely won’t join their parents Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on the couple’s trip to Colombia, an ex-royal bodyguard has suggested.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced earlier this week that they will be visiting Colombia for another royal tour later this year.
It comes after Harry and Meghan made a three-day tour of Nigeria in May, without their children, Archie, five, and Lilibet, aged three.
Former royal protection officer Simon Morgan raised a series of concerns over the security requirements of a trip to Colombia and cast doubt over whether Archie and Lilibet will join their parents.
He told Express.co.uk: “I don’t know if Archie and Lilibet will go. You would have to assess it and see if it’s viable
He added: “When dignitaries are separated there are extra security needs around that. The general advice is do not go to Colombia. It’s a question for the Sussexes.”
Archie and Lilibet did not join Harry and Meghan on their trip to Nigeria, which came after the Duke of Sussex’s solo trip to the UK to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games in May.
Ahead of Harry and Meghan’s trip to the west African country questions were raised over how secure they would be, but the trip appears to have passed off without a hitch.
Mr Morgan suggested Harry and Meghan’s security in Colombia would involve input from the country’s military, law enforcement and intelligence services.
The former Metropolitan Police officer who worked with the Royal Family for seven years said this is because the Sussexes were invited by the Colombian government.
Colombia’s Vice President, Francia Márquez, invited them to the capital, Bogotá as well as Cartagena and Cali in a visit where they are expected to focus on cyberbullying, online exploitation and mental health, causes the couple have championed since stepping back as senior royals in 2020.
However, Britain and the US advise against travel to Colombia with the UK’s Foreign Office warning travellers that terrorists are “very likely” to try and carry out attacks, noting there is a “high” threat to British interests and nationals.
Mr Morgan said: “[Colombia] is a complex environment. It’s beautiful, but also extremely brutal. From a security perspective it’s an extremely challenging environment because of the nature not just of drug cartels in and around Colombia but also some of the far-left terrorism.
“Kidnap, murder and exploitation are very common currency, even in Bogotá.”
He suggested groups opposed to the Colombian government may try to upset the Sussexes’ trip in some way in a bid to embarrass the country’s leaders at a time when greater attention will be on Colombia due to Harry and Meghan being there.
The security expert, who is now Director of Operations and Training at security firm Trojan Consultancy, said: “There would be damage to [Colombia’s] international reputation if something happened… It would be extremely embarrassing to the government.”
Mr Morgan suggested there would be a “layered” security detail, with vetting of anyone Harry and Meghan are expected to meet, travel in armoured cars and possible protection from the air.
But he cautioned that Colombia’s security standards are an unknown quantity, adding: “I don’t know how many dignitaries go to Colombia. I can’t recall anybody from the UK going to Colombia on a state visit. I don’t know what their processes would be. They may have visits from South American leaders. It’s difficult to know what they will do really.”
He added: “[Harry] is not getting protection from His Majesty’s Government and the Metropolitan Police at the moment…
“[Harry and Meghan] made a choice as private individuals to go to that country. [Their security] is entirely up to them now and their advisors.