SECURITY ROW
Harry ‘will NOT attend uncle’s funeral in UK due to security fears’ as he & Meghan jet off for tour of gangland Colombia
His death sparked speculation that Harry could see his brother for the first time since his tell-all memoir
PRINCE Harry will not attend his uncle's funeral in the UK due to security fears.
Lord Robert Fellowes, who was Princess Diana's brother-in-law and served as the late Queen's private secretary from 1990 to 1999, passed away aged 82 last month.
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His death sparked speculation that the Duke of Sussex could see his estranged brother Prince William for the first time since his tell-all memoir Spare.
But the Sun understands Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will not attend Lord Robert's funeral amid their ongoing battle with the Home Office.
The Sussexes were stripped of their round-the-clock protection when they stepped back from royal duties in 2020.
Lord Robert helped the Queen through her "annus horribilis" in 1992 when the royals were dogged by a series of troubles.
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That year Prince Charles feuded with Diana, Prince Andrew split from Sarah Ferguson, Princess Anne divorced and Windsor Castle was gutted by fire.
He was later forced to deny bizarre claims by Harrods owner Mohammed al Fayed that he was behind Diana's 1997 car crash.
It comes as Harry and Meghan confirmed a new "royal" tour just months after their "memorable" Nigeria visit.
They have been personally invited to spend a few days in Colombia by the country's Vice President Francia Márquez.
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Their schedule will include trips to capital Bogotá, and Pacific regions Cartagena and Cali.
The pair are set to "experience the rich heritage of Colombia" in a meaningful visit shortly before a conference on ending violence against children is held there.
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Francia Márquez said of the planned trip: "I am pleased to announce that Prince Harry and Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, have kindly accepted my invitation to visit our beautiful country.
"During their trip, The Duke and Duchess will join me in visiting Bogotá, as well as the Caribbean and Pacific regions of Cartagena and Cali.
"In these vibrant locations, they will have the exceptional opportunity to engage with leaders, youth, and women who embody the aspirations and voices of Colombians committed to progress.
"Their visit comes at a particularly significant time, as it precedes the first Global Ministerial Conference on Ending Violence Against Children, to be held in Colombia this November.
PIERS MORGAN One word springs to mind when I think of deluded Meghan and Harry 'prancing around' on fake royal tour of Colombia
By Piers Morgan
My all-time favourite theatre review was about a play called: Why?
The critic wrote one word: "Exactly."
I thought of this when I heard that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will embark on a four-day tour of Colombia this Thursday.
They're going at the invitation of the country's first black Vice President, Francia Marquez, who gushed that the renegade royal duo "have the 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".
Meghan and Harry aren't real royals these days.
They don't do any actual duties for the institution which conferred their titles on them — they just line their pockets with cash in America by constantly trashing their families, and the monarchy, in the media.
So, what gives them the right to prance around the world pretending to be proper royals, on quasi- official visits?
There are so many things wrong about this.
First, the laughable hypocrisy of them going to one of the world's most dangerous places — both the UK and US government websites warn travellers to Colombia about the elevated risk of terrorism, kidnapping, rape and robbery — after all of Harry's whiny demands for taxpayer-funded royal security when he comes to the UK to "protect his family".
Second, their decision to go and prop up a Colombian government that's been bedevilled by scandal since coming to power.
President Gustavo Petro, a radical socialist who once fought in a rebel guerrilla group, has seen his foreign minister suspended for alleged cor- ruption, his son Nicolas charged with pocketing cash from drug traffickers meant for his father's presidential campaign, and his brother Juan accused of seeking payments from jailed drug dealers in exchange for judicial benefits from the government.
Petro's also faced recent allegations that he cheated on his wife with a transgender TV host.
As for his Vice President, there's been growing public anger over her hypocrisy at being Colombia's minister for equality while simultaneously using luxury helicopters like taxis and spending millions on a new home where she now lives instead of her official residence.
Opposition politician Miguel Polo Polo posted on X: "Francia Marquez is the biggest fraud in our black community.
"She's been in office for two years and has done nothing, only play the victim and travel around in helicopters."
Sound familiar?
But what I'm most annoyed about is the Sussexes' delusion that they can somehow operate as a rival royal family on the global stage, enjoying all the benefits from that regal status but without any need to fulfil their obligations to their King and country.
It's completely unacceptable, and unsustainable, for estranged members of the Royal Family to conduct official trips like this.
The King should strip Meghan and Harry of their titles that they trade off so cynically, and instruct Palace officials to tell heads of foreign governments that they must stop issuing formal tour invitations of this nature to this greedy two-faced pair who want to have their royal cake and eat it.
"The Archewell Foundation, founded by The Duke and Duchess, is renowned for its global leadership in fostering a safer online environment.
"The forthcoming conference will unveil a comprehensive framework for creating safer physical and digital spaces, tackling issues such as cyberbullying, online exploitation, and the mental health impacts of these threats.
"It will offer actionable solutions and commitments for countries around the world."
Vice President Márquez added she is "confident" the Sussexes' visit will "illuminate Colombia's role as a beacon of culture and innovation".
It will be Harry and Meghan's second "faux royal tour" after visiting Nigeria in May.
The couple spent three days in the West African country, meeting with locals and leaders.
While there, they unveiled a partnership between their Archewell Foundation and the non-profit Giants of Africa, which aims to empower young people through sport.
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The couple soon jetted back to the United States after they watched a charity exhibition match at Lagos Polo Club.
Prior to that, Harry, 39, had enjoyed a game of basketball with a group of Nigerian youngsters.
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