Interesting , albeit scathing, review of the Colombia trip

[Camillo]

This was posted on Reddit, its in Spanish so needs to be translated, says exactly what most people have been saying of their 'tours' and this Colombia trip in particular.. This journalist nailed it.

I guess Harpers Bazaar nor People magazine will be reporting what most people REALLY thought of their trip.

https://blogs.elespectador.com/actualidad/pletora/francia-marquez-los-conoci-en-netflix/

A few notable excerpts (google translated)

During their visit, they acted as luxury tourists:

Why did Francia Márquez decide to invite the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to do "humanitarian tourism"? The answer seems unlikely, exit from Creole stand-up comedy. At a press conference, the vice president revealed her motivation: "I met Meghan and Harry through the media, but above all I watched the Netflix documentary .

Márquez, as a dazzled fan and a capricious girl, used her power as vice president to meet the media stars that moved her. It's like watching a bad gringa comedy in real life.

Harry and Meghan's visit was, in essence, a spectacle of neo-colonialism

Although the forum had quality experts and panelists, Harry and Meghan's participation contributed the same thing as their visit to the school: nothing.

the children of La Boquilla were reduced to marketing objects to enhance the public image of the dukes,

the dukes, experts in upbringing and culture, offered local parents valuable advice on how to raise their children in the midst of a reality that Harry and Meghan could hardly imagine. WTF!

The visit lasted an hour; it was a "flash", they took longer to come and go.

the dukes acted as white salvationists,

Meghan Markle attended the summit "Women of African descent and Power: Voices of Equity" in Cali, where her interventions were limited to clichés and banalities typical of a self-improvement coach.

This I found very funny...........The couple got married and as is the case in many families, Meghan disliked her husband's grandmother, her in-laws and her brother-in-law, due to her race and temperament incompatible with her brother-in-law's wife,

Without notable skills or professions, they sell their image

The reality is that the only beneficiaries were the dukes,

A very succinct review, I wonder if Harry and Meghan are listening ? Are they reading the room about how their trips are viewed ?

WatchOutMissMarpleIsAbout

Saying something that sounds like a fact doesn’t actually make it a fact or true for that matter.

Now this is true.

There's an awful lot of unsupported flat statements about "Prince Harry ❤️" and "beautiful Duchess/Princess Meghan 😍" being wonderfully popular, "especially with young people" (not amongst any people of, say, 30 or under that I know - they either aren't interested in any of the RF, official or not, or are pro K&W) and everybody "hates" our "salty little island" etc etc
I can only presume it's an attempt at manifesting what they wish was the truth.

I imagine they are in their own fantasies.

Please can you provide a link for that poll? All of the ones I’ve seen such as above and on YouGov put them at the bottom of the list just above Andrew as they are two of the least popular Royals.

Glad others thought the article was interesting too…..the trip wasn’t a success by any stretch of the imagination. They are too blind/attention seeking/just plain dumb to see they are doing more harm than good with organising these trips.

Themselves

Also now that we know that Meghan is a shareholder in Cesta Collective, that she wore one of these bags on the Columbia tour (before we knew she had invested)…..we now know that she used the Presidential plane as a backdrop to get the cesta handbag in shot

I did think it was weird that she was standing in front of the VP in this greeting line but it’s because she needs the bag front and centre. She’s knows she needs to get a clear shot.

I can’t believe the papers are not calling her out on this. How can Harry think that it’s appropriate, that a tour in which a country is spending millions in security costs etc and has been passed off as a visit to highlight the dangers of SM to children, is actually been used as a fashion shoot to boost Meghans business deals. Shady doesn’t even begin to cover it.

I'm cringing for her - all those plans of running a foundation and being a tv / film producer and a children's author and the face of Dior and an entrepreneur, and now she might as well be on QVC.

So, the purpose of these tours is now revealed as allowing M to promote, for commercial gain, the clothes, jewellery and accessories she is wearing. In other words, paid-for adverts, with the country and its people just the backdrop.

This takes narcissism to a new level.

All while crooning away about humanitarianism and kindness and empowerment. Absolutely repulsive.

Stuff Kate wears sells out too, the difference being that I'm very sure she doesn't have a financial stake in the brands concerned.

That’s what makes it so much worse, the fact that the merching is being disguised as a humanitarian visit.

Can you imagine Diana in Africa merching handbags while visiting the cleared land mines sites in Angola? Helmet, padded vest and handbag resting on the forearm.

How can Harry not see this?

This is what William saw all along I think.

I guess the visits are the best way of generating press interest. The odd (arranged) pap photo wouldn't be cost effective. These are presumably the thoughts in Meghan's head as she plans a trip. Meanwhile the citizens of the country concerned are hanging out the bunting and coughing up millions for security so that she can come and do her product placement while Harry stands in the background looking woebegone.

Promoting ethical fashion where the creators (especially those in disadvantaged situations) are paid properly, I could get behind that, if it was done in a straightforward and above board way.

Doing it to support your "really good friends", erm, less so. Doing it because you're hoping to make money from it, while on a faux royal tour, no, no, no.

@Twistybranch , quite. Diana's clothes on those occasions were totally anonymous and basic, jeans or chinos and white shirts mainly as I recall. She knew when to look like a fashion plate and when not to and I think the plainness of her clothes was quite deliberate, as well as practical.

Well Meghan spent lots of time online searching for ethical, women led brands….we know that because she told us. That while we were scrolling and reading online, she was out there searching for designers.

But reading is very important. So important that she may have came across the court case lodged - American Express National Bank V Cesta Collective. Cesta Collective were being pursued as of Feb this year for $120,000 worth of debt. No idea what the outcome was.

This illustrates why the half in / half out would never have worked. The Queen understood this very clearly.

The whole shebang is ridiculous and if they have any self awareness (which I,don't think they do), they'll stop these faux royal tours.

The Wales' tour of the Caribbean, especially Barbados was viewed critically, evoking old colonial vibes and I'm sure they'll be having a rethink for future visits.
The difference is they'll listen to experts and adapt accordingly.

The Sussex's aren't representing anyone but themselves.

Hmm ... female empowering ethical brand?

Hope that’s not a resurfaced yachting pic 😂

The latest YouGov poll has been published. Sorry @Lampzade it is further evidence to disprove your statement that Harry and Meghan are the most popular royals. It doesn’t look at all good for them and their popularity.

https://x.com/YouGov/status/1829512597038629354

She's an exploiter - massively in your face ... no wonder people are very cool to her and Harry once they get a sniff of their antics

For info
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13797943/william-kate-britain-fabourite-royals-harry-meghan-prince-andrew-firm.html

I read that as something else 😂

".. no wonder people are very cool to her and Harry once they get a sniff of their antics"