My pleasure! I don't think the UK embassy would be involved, though next time I come across a British diplomat, I'll be asking questions about how they handle Harry's visits to their jurisdictions. It must be tricky--he is the son of the King but he is not there as a representative of the said King, but then was invited by a local official. I don't envy the diplomats the headache they'll surely get from the visit because even though it is tough work arranging visits, it is better as an Embassy to have full control over it rather than little control to no control because you never want things to go to hell under your watch. The US would have close to no involvement since Meghan is not an official, though knowing them, they would likely still monitor their activities.
Yes, agree with this. Aside from the security side, in a typical visit, a lot of work also goes behind vetting the people they'll meet, the institutions they'll visit, the statements to be made, etc. You don't want them meeting sketchy characters or endorsing organizations with questionable funding, among other concerns. Most visits of a sociocultural nature from a country like the UK to a country like Colombia would probably focus on the progress of a specific project funded by ODA from the UK, or interesting non-profits founded by UK nationals in Colombia--there is alway that link between the UK and the host.
This made me read the VP's statement on the visit, though this is from Tatler: While there, they will have an ‘exceptional opportunity to engage with elders, youth and women who embody the aspirations and voices of Colombians... and illuminate Colombia's role as a beacon of culture and innovation,’
said Márquez. ‘In addition to these meaningful interactions, the Duke and Duchess will experience the rich heritage of Colombia.’
Contrast that with what the Duchess of Edinburgh did:
The Duchess of Edinburgh also attended a roundtable discussion, hosted by the UK and Canadian Embassies, with women from the Colombian Armed Forces, to hear about their work in support of the Women, Peace and Security agenda, ensuring the meaningful participation of women in peace processes at all levels. The Duchess met an officer who has recently completed the commissioning course at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.
There's always specific reasons behind official visits, and this one seems very general and random, which emphasizes the strange position Harry and Meghan are in. I suppose it is more helpful to think of them as celebrities invited by the VP to visit--another strange arrangement because this usually happens if said celebrity is brought to another country by the UN or an NGO (does Archwell count?) which lends an official status to the visit but that's not even the case here...
