Prince Harry and Meghan Markle began their whirlwind trip around Colombia yesterday, with a lip reader uncovering a moment between the pair as they greeted schoolchildren

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle greeted children at a school as they kicked off their Colombia tour – but both appeared to be competing for their say.

The couple, who quit as working royals in 2020, joined Vice President Francia Márquez and her husband, Rafael Yerney Pinillo, for a breakfast meeting in the capital of Bogota on Thursday morning. Meghan, who was dressed in a £598 Orlinda vest by designer Veronica Beard, looked chic while her husband opted for a tailored navy suit with a relaxed shirt.

The pair visited the Colegio Cultura Popular school in the city, where they were given a tour and informational session by the institution’s head, Leonel Umaña Parra, and by student José David. As they were getting deep into conversation, a lip reader noticed an awkward moment between them, where Meghan appeared ‘strained’ as she interjected.

A lip reader said Meghan interrupted Harry and ‘strained to speak’ ( Image: REACH PLC)

According to professional lip reader Nicola Hickling, Harry is about to say something when Meghan interrupts him and speaks first to the boy. As seen in the clip, Harry quickly closes his mouth and turns to his wife, who then leads the way, before gesturing with a nod.

“Harry is about to say something (“look”) when Meghan interrupts him and speaks to the boy,” she said. “Meghan’s eyes are closed and she clasps her hands together, it’s almost like she is straining to speak at first.”

The lip-reader says Meghan proceeded to say: “So, so you won an award in products, is that right?” When finished speaking, Harry asks the boy a question: “How serious were you when you took on this offer?”

While at the school, Harry entertained the crowds while trying to count in Spanish and shared details about his children, Archie, five, and Lilibet, three. “I have young children and they’re not on social media,” he told the crowd, according to Ms Hickling.

In another exchange, as they left the vice president’s office, Meghan had a direct order for her husband. Ms Hickling noticed that Meghan quietly muttered, “hand”, before he replied, “Here you go.”

Body language expert Judi James noted Meghan’s confidence on the trip, which could explain her taking the lead in certain conversations. She told the Mirror : “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.”

Meghan and Harry were invited to Colombia by Vice President Francia Márquez and have a jam-packed schedule that includes meeting leaders and discussing concerns about cyberbullying. The couple’s Archewell Foundation has a focus on promoting safer digital environments.

The visit marks Harry and Meghan’s first joint trip to Colombia, and during their stay, they will also visit the cities of Cartagena and Cali. Colombia became the first South American country to join Harry’s sports event for wounded, injured and sick service personnel and veterans, when they competed at the Düsseldorf Invictus Games in September 2023.

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.”