Harry and Meghan surprised fans with their Colombia tour announcement (Image: Getty)

Harry and Meghan raised eyebrows with their decision to visit Colombia given their concerns over security in the UK – but there was a major motivation behind the tour, according to a royal expertMeghan Markle and Prince Harry had a major motivation for paying a visit to Colombia, according to a royal expert.

In the summer of 2024, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced their plans to visit the South American country after they were invited by the country’s vice-president, Francia Márquez. The decision came as a surprise to many. Meghan has cited security fears as her reason for not visiting the UK, yet the Sussexes were happy to travel to a country that the UK and US both advise travellers to avoid.During an appearance on YouTube podcast Kinsey Schofield Unfiltered , expert Katie Nicholl reflected on the security issue – and revealed why she thinks Harry and Meghan really wanted to go. She said: “I am sure this is a trip that will generate a huge amount of coverage for them as a couple, for Colombia, for everything that is going to be discussed over the round table that is going to take place over the course of those few days. And it, of course, puts Harry and Meghan on the international map once again. I think so much of this and what they’re doing is about that international visibility.”

Katie continued: “It’s apparently not safe to come to the UK, but it is safe to go to Colombia. I think when we look back at the last tour that they did, to Nigeria, the security was incredible there. But this was the military in Nigeria stepping up, treating the royals as if they were on an official royal tour. I suppose it’s going to depend on what kind of security they’re going to get when they’re on the ground [in Colombia]. One can imagine it is only going to be at a government and military level and they will be well protected because of course they don’t have the benefit of royal security.”

Harry has said on a number of occasions that he is reluctant to bring his family to Britain because of security concerns. His last visit to the UK was made by him alone, to mark the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games. The Duke has taken the Home Office to court over the level of taxpayer-funded security he receives while in the UK after it was downgraded in the wake of his and Meghan’s stepping down as senior working royals in 2020. He lost his bid to restore his taxpayer-funded security earlier this year, a decision he plans to appeal.

In an interview for ITV’s documentary Tabloids on Trial, which aired on 25 July, Harry shared his concerns for his and his family’s safety. “It’s still dangerous, and all it takes is one lone actor, one person who reads this stuff to act on what they have read,” he said. “And whether it’s a knife or acid, whatever it is, and these are things that are of genuine concern for me. It’s one of the reasons why I won’t bring my wife back to this country.”