{"id":2336223,"date":"2024-09-03T16:05:02","date_gmt":"2024-09-03T20:05:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/meghan-markle-and-prince-harry-get-slammed-after-costing-country-thousands-during-4-day-tour\/"},"modified":"2024-09-03T16:08:09","modified_gmt":"2024-09-03T20:08:09","slug":"meghan-markle-and-prince-harry-get-slammed-after-costing-country-thousands-during-4-day-tour","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/meghan-markle-and-prince-harry-get-slammed-after-costing-country-thousands-during-4-day-tour\/","title":{"rendered":"Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Get Slammed After Costing Country Thousands During 4-Day Tour"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">28<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fmeghan-markle-and-prince-harry-get-slammed-after-costing-country-thousands-during-4-day-tour%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2336223&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Prince Harry and Meghan Markle&#8217;s recent four-day tour of Colombia resulted in significant backlash due to its high costs, reportedly amounting to \u200daround \u00a345,000 (approximately $59,000).\u2062 This expense, primarily for \u200csecurity and logistics,\u200b was considered a misuse of public funds by some <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/late-night-restaurant-owners-want-to-play-fair-so-far-they-say-newsom-hasnt\/\" title=\"Late-night restaurant owners want to play fair. So far, they say, Newsom hasn&#039;t\">local officials<\/a> and politicians. Colombian Vice President Francia Marquez, who invited the couple, faced criticism from Senator Maria Fernanda Cabal, who described the tour as &#8220;wasteful spending&#8221; amidst the country&#8217;s economic \u200ccrisis.\u2063 Local council member Andres Escobar also condemned\u200d the allocation of resources for the visit,\u2062 suggesting\u200b that the funds could have been \u200dbetter utilized \u2064for community needs like children&#8217;s\u200c soup kitchens and support for Afro communities.\u2064 The tour was characterized by limited media access, and public\u200b officials \u200baccused the\u200c government of prioritizing \u2063&#8221;photo opportunities&#8221; over <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/laura-hollis-no-john-bolton-we-will-not-vote-for-you\/\" title=\"Laura Hollis: No, John Bolton, We Will Not Vote for You\">pressing social issues<\/a>. The negative reception highlighted\u2062 the disparity \u200dbetween the\u200c lavish spending\u2064 associated with the visit and the ongoing struggles faced by many Colombians.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<section> <script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC3)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC4)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p>They came, they waved, they left. And when the tour of Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex was all over, the nation of Colombia was left with a hefty bill.<\/p>\n<p>The Colombian government is on the hook for about &pound;45,000 (nearly $59,000 in USD), according to the U.K. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailymail.co.uk\/news\/article-13808623\/Prince-Harry-Meghan-Markle-Colombia-tour-cost.html?ico=related-replace\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Daily Mail<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>In Colombian money, the cost totaled &nbsp;244,245,305 pesos for security and internal travel, according to Colombia Vice President Francia Marquez, who invited the couple.<\/p>\n<p>Senator Maria Fernanda Cabal branded the August tour as &ldquo;showmanship&rdquo; &nbsp;and &ldquo;wasteful spending.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">The eye-watering amount Harry and Meghan&rsquo;s four-day tour of Colombia cost is revealed <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/TejEIQAWJm\">https:\/\/t.co\/TejEIQAWJm<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/MailOnline?\">@MailOnline<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; cclinton (@grancake) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/grancake\/status\/1831038625225769265?\">September 3, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>  <script> \t\t\t\tif( ! getCookie( 'ff_subbed' ) ) if( typeof FFADS.replace_ict !='undefined' ) if( FFADS.replace_ict ) eval( FFADS.replace_ict ); \t\t\t<\/script> <\/p>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;After Francia Marquez saw the story of Harry and Meghan on Netflix, she brought them to Colombia for seven days at a daily cost of no less than 34,892,186 pesos, money that belongs to Colombians,&rdquo; Cabal said, according to the U.K. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/news\/royals\/wasteful-spending-slammed-true-cost-33585810.amp\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Daily Mirror<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>A Colombian report, since taken down, that claimed 3,000 security personnel were on hand during the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/meghan-duchess-sussex-feels-rejected-homesick-prince-harry-looks-new-residence\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">tour<\/a>, prompted a scathing reply from a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/white-house-releases-list-of-president-trumps-accomplishments-and-it-is-historic\/\" title=\"White House Releases List of President Trump\u2019s Accomplishments \u2013  And It Is Historic!\">local official<\/a> from the city of Cali, according to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.express.co.uk\/news\/royal\/1943369\/meghan-markle-prince-harry-colombia-trip-cost\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Telegraph<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;We continue with an ancient practice: handing over our resources in exchange for smoke and mirrors,&rdquo; local council member Andres Escobar said.<\/p>\n<p>He said the money &ldquo;could have been used to expand coverage of children&rsquo;s soup kitchens, pay salaries for community mothers, seed capital for Afro communities or adapt sports venues that are practically in ruins.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Escobar also accused Marquez of &ldquo;squandering public money on her vanity&rdquo; and said taxes were spent on &nbsp;&ldquo;photo opportunities and social media,&rdquo; according to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailymail.co.uk\/news\/article-13760873\/Security-Harry-Meghan-royal-tour-cost-poverty-stricken-Colombia-million-claim-furious-official-slams-vice-president.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Daily Mail<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;There are many, many Colombians who are hungry and have a lack of basic needs. They invested this money because the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/new-book-claims-tensions-between-joe-biden-kamala-harris-began-with-sneakers-vogue-cover\/\" title=\"New Book Claims Tensions Between Joe Biden, Kamala Harris Began with Sneakers Vogue Cover\">vice president wanted<\/a> to meet two <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/hunter-asks-biden-appointed-prosecutor-to-investigate-ex-business-partner-who-tied-big-guy-to-his-business-dealings\/\" title=\"Hunter requests Biden-appointed prosecutor to investigate former business partner linking &#039;Big Guy&#039; to business dealings.\">high-profile public figures<\/a> and brush aside criticism and problems that we have here,&rdquo; he said.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;We are in an economic crisis and eight billion pesos have been spent for the visit of Harry and Meghan, Colombian military planes and helicopters have been used and the money could have been better spent,&rdquo; he added.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Prince Harry and Meghan Markle&rsquo;s tour torn apart as true cost to Colombia laid bare: &lsquo;Wasteful!&rsquo;<a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/KKgjP5C93V\">https:\/\/t.co\/KKgjP5C93V<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; GB News (@GBNEWS) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/GBNEWS\/status\/1830879994358223140?\">September 3, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Before this current government came to power they campaigned that they would save money and not waste it but they have done just the opposite with this visit,&rdquo; Escobar said.<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/articles\/c4gdkljn78ko\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">BBC<\/a> noted that &ldquo;much of this tour &ndash; including the events &ndash; were very private and controlled,&rdquo; with only videographers and photographers approved by the government and royal <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/harry-meghan-soon-stripped-royal-titles\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">couple<\/a>-allowed access.<\/p>\n<p>The only print reporter with the tour was from Harper&rsquo;s Bazaar.<\/p>\n<p>The report suggested that for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/meghan-duchess-sussex-hit-lawsuit-sister-family-drama-resurfaces\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Harry and Meghan<\/a>, the tour was &ldquo;about maintaining their influence and visibility on the world stage, and showing they can still attract audiences with global leaders.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<div style=\"position: relative;\">\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\">  <\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> <label>* Name<\/label> <br \/> <input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> <\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> <label>* <\/label> <br \/> <input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> <\/div>\n<p> <label>* Message<\/label> <br \/> <textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea>  <\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> <input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\">  <\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> <script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey==typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts={ \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs=[ 'name', '', 'message' ];  \t\t\t\t\tfor( var i=0; i <inputs.length; i++ ) if( ! 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Once Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex&#8217;s tour concluded, Colombia was left with a significant expense. The Colombian government is responsible for approximately \u00a345,000 (almost $59,000 USD), as reported by the U.K. Daily Mail. In Colombian pesos, the total cost amounted to 244,245,305 pesos for security and internal travel expenses, according to Vice President Francia Marquez who invited the couple. Senator Maria Fernanda Cabal criticized the August visit as \u201cshowmanship\u201d and \u201cwasteful spending.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>Cabal stated that after Marquez watched a Netflix documentary about Harry and Meghan, she brought them to Colombia for seven days at a daily cost of no less than 34,892,186 pesos\u2014funds that belong to the Colombian people. A now-removed report claimed that 3,000 security personnel were present during their visit; this led local council member Andres Escobar from Cali to respond harshly: \u201cWe continue with an ancient practice: handing over our resources in exchange for smoke and mirrors.\u201d He argued that these funds could have been better utilized for expanding children&#8217;s soup kitchens or supporting community initiatives.<\/p>\n<p>Escobar accused Marquez of wasting public funds on her personal desires instead of addressing pressing issues like hunger among Colombians. He emphasized that during an economic crisis where eight billion pesos were spent on this visit\u2014including military aircraft\u2014the money could have been allocated more effectively.<\/p>\n<p>He also pointed out that prior to taking office, this government promised fiscal responsibility but has done quite the opposite with this event. The BBC highlighted that much of the tour was private and tightly controlled; only select videographers and photographers approved by both governments had access while Harper\u2019s Bazaar was the sole print media representative allowed on-site. The report suggested Harry and Meghan aimed to maintain their global influence through such appearances alongside world leaders<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2336224,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/them-two.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[34254,33095,36191,40001],"class_list":["post-2336223","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-meghan-markle","tag-prince-harry","tag-royal-family","tag-uk-tour"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/them-two.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2336223","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2336223"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2336223\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2336224"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2336223"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2336223"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2336223"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}