Alert – Harry and Meghan’s security use bulletproof ballistic briefcase to protect couple from potential shooters in crime-swept Colombia

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s security detail in Colombia is using a bulletproof briefcase to protect the couple from potential shooters during their four-day tour of the country.

At each event the couple have attended the man – part of the local security detail – has been seen jumping out of a vehicle ahead of the couple holding the folding shield.

During their visit to La Giralda school on Friday morning, the shelf was clearly visible behind Harry as he planted a tree in the grounds and on footage released by the Colombian government.

But Harry seemed unfazed by its presence as he bopped along to the traditional Colombian musical performances the children had prepared for his arrival.

The shield – known as a ballistic briefcase – is also being used to protect the country’s vice president Francia Marquez who is hosting the visit and who has been the target of several assassination attempts.

Last year the protection team found 7kg of explosive buried in a rural road leading to her home in the south western province of Cauca and just two months ago her father and six-year-old nephew escaped unharmed after gunmen riddled a car they were in with bullets.

A security guard is seen holding aloft the bulletproof shield as Harry and Meghan help children plant trees in the garden of a school today

The shield was also visible as they posed for photos with students at La Giralda school in the Santa Fe district of Bogota

Harry and Meghan didn’t seem to let the extra security precautions weigh heavily on their minds during their visit

A soldier walking an armed forces dog stands alongside other servicemen outside La Giralda school before the visit

Harry and Meghan hold hands as they walk into Colegio La Giralda in Bogota, Colombia, this morning

Meghan changed out of her blazer, trousers and white shirt into a different crisp white shirt, which she paired with a long skirt, for the afternoon’s event

Security websites describe the ballistic briefcase as a discreet close protection and a rapid-deployment safety device.

It’s non-threatening appearance and easy carry feature makes it ideal for executives, close protection officers and VIP bodyguards.

It can be unfolded rapidly with one hand to provide a sizeable line of defence for ballistic and fragmentation threats.

The ring of steel surrounding the party will raise eyebrows as Colombia has travel advisory warnings from the Foreign Commonwealth Development Office.

The school the couple visited on Friday was in the Bogota district of Santa Fe which is seen as a particularly dangerous and violent suburb.

The area is Bogota’s red-light district, a deadly mix of prostitution, drugs and violence and best avoided at night, according to locals.

It featured on Apple TV series No Go Zones – The World’s Toughest Places – and was described as an area of ‘Colombian gangsters and pimps in charge and all manner of homeless people and addicts find their way to the wasteland of Bogota.’

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were escorted to a school in the Santa Fe area of Bogota amid tight security with at least 16 armoured police vehicles, as well as armed officers and soldiers, seen on patrol before their arrival.

Roads were blocked off as the couple’s convoy swept into the area, which is described as a no-go zone in the Colombian capital – when asked for a taxi to take our reporter there he questioned if we had the right place.

The visit to the school, which is overlooked by rundown apartment blocks and several rundown favelas which cling to the nearby hillsides, comes despite Harry’s raising concerns over his security arrangements when visiting the UK.

Police on motorbikes stand next to a cordon which was erected in the road before the couple’s arrival this morning

Police stand guard at a cordon outside La Giralda school in the Santa Fe district of Bogota today

Soldiers on a motorbike travel down the roads around the school ahead of the Sussexes’ visit today

Police wearing high-visibility clothing stand in the shade of a building next to barriers put outside the school

After being greeted by the school’s headmaster Serafin Ordoñez, the Duke and Duchess, along with the country’s Vice President Francia Marquez, took part in a brief tour.

It saw the couple observe an art session, visit a kindergarten class and get their hands dirty by helping the young students plant trees in the school’s garden.

Later in the day the couple shared a private lunch with vice president Francia Marquez, before meeting with members of Colombia’s Invictus Games squad, who are gearing up for the 2025 games in Whistler, Canada.

They met with athletes training for the Games, which were founded by the duke, at the Centro de Rehabilitacion Inclusiva.

Meghan changed out of her blazer, trousers and white shirt into a different crisp white button down, which she paired with a long skirt, for the afternoon’s event. She also swapped the pumps she had been wearing earlier in the day for a pair of strappy sandals.

Meanwhile Harry, keen to get stuck in with the sitting volleyball match, traded his smart blue shirt for a dark polo.

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and Vice President of Colombia Francia Marquez are seen at a Training Session with Invictus Games Team

Harry and Meghan are seen posing with officials and war veterans at the Centro de Rehabilitacion Inclusiva

The couple were welcomed by military officials before touring the centre’s swimming pool, rock climbing wall gym and rehabilitation facilities, chatting with the athletes about their exercise programmes.

‘It’s amazing to see how many people can come together to form one team,’ Harry said to an Invictus team member while touring the centre’s cardiovascular room, Meghan saying the athletes were ‘all so incredible to watch.

They were accompanied by Colombia’s Vice President Francia Marquez and her partner Rafael Yerney Pinillo, who joined Harry in taking part in the volleyball match.

After the game, Harry spoke to a group of Korean War veterans and the couple toured the centre’s art hall which featured artwork created by Invictus athletes. 

Meghan was presented with a painting, hand-knitted animals and also a beaded necklace with matching earrings from some of the artists, while the duke was awarded a commemorative plaque from the Ministry of National Defence Veterans.

The Duchess of Sussex is seen holding the hand of one veteran as he presents his artwork

The couple pose with an Invictus athlete at the centre, who is seen training on a rowing machine

Officials have kept the itinerary a closely guarded secret because parts of the country are described as ‘best avoided’ due to ongoing internal conflicts.

Colombia, like Nigeria where the couple visited in May, is seen as a high risk destination in parts by UK and US officials.

The Sussexes are being given a full security detail throughout their visit alongside Ms Marquez, who invited the couple to travel to Colombia after watching their Netflix docuseries for what has been dubbed a DIY royal tour.

Ms Marquez, a lawyer and human rights and environmental activist, is Colombia’s first black vice-president and serves in the country’s first left-wing government, led by president Gustavo Petro.

Ensuring the couple’s security will be a high priority during their stay. The Foreign Office warns against all but essential travel to certain parts of Colombia, with kidnapping rates remaining high.

Meghan kneels down as she speaks to a young girl in the school’s kindergarten this morning

Meghan smiles as she speaks to a little girl in the school’s garden, where she and Harry helped them plant trees

The couple smile as they pose for a photo with students wearing traditional Colombian clothing

It also describes the country as ‘seriously afflicted by conflict’ with a resurgence in violence in parts of Colombia despite the peace agreement with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) movement to end the civil war.

The Duke has meanwhile maintained it is ‘still dangerous’ for Meghan to return to the UK.

He is said to be missing the private funeral of his uncle Lord Fellowes – husband of Diana’s sister Lady Jane Fellowes – in Norfolk later this month due to his security fears.

Harry lost a High Court challenge against the Home Office in February over a decision to change the level of his personal security when he visits the UK, but he has been given the green light to appeal.

During the case, the court was told Harry believes his children cannot ‘feel at home’ in the UK if it is ‘not possible to keep them safe’ there and that he faces a greater risk than his late mother, with ‘additional layers of racism and extremism’.

Harry and Meghan stepped down from the working monarchy in 2020 and no longer travel at the request of the UK Government on official overseas royal visits, when travel costs would have usually been met by the taxpayer-funded Sovereign Grant.

The Sussexes’ team has not confirmed how the trip is being funded, whether privately, through Harry and Meghan’s Archewell Foundation, by the Colombian government or other means.

Their first visit today was to La Giralda school in Santa Fe, which was nominated for being one of the top ten in the world, not for its education record instead its promotion of a healthy living and lifestyle for students and teachers.

An artwork by on of the students at Colegio La Giralda which was put on display for Harry and Meghan

Meghan also helped one student plant a walnut tree while Harry helped out with a guayacan tree – a plant native to South America

Some of the art pieces created by students at the school and put on display for the visit by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle hold the hands of two students as they are given a tour of Colegio La Giralda in Bogota today

Harry was seen getting into the groove when he showed off some dance moves during a musical performance

The couple are on the second day of their four-day trip to Colombia at the invite of the country’s vice president

After being greeted by the school’s headmaster Serafin Ordóñez, the Duke and Duchess along with the Vice President participated in a brief tour of the school including participating in an art session, visiting a kindergarten class, and also joining in on planting trees on the school’s property.

Meghan helped a five-year-old pupil called Manuela plant a walnut tree while Harry helped out with a guayacan tree – a plant native to South America.

The entire school prepared special moments for the Duke and Duchess’s arrival, including performances all throughout the grounds where students wore traditional Colombian dress and performed songs along with live music.

Pupils also presented presents for Harry and Meghan’s children Archie, five, and Lilibet, three, including Colombian style ponchos, as well as personal letters and drawings.

School CEO Diana Basto said:’ It was so special for us to have Harry and Meghan come and visit us and the staff and children were all very excited. It was a lovely experience to have them here.

‘They visited various parts of the school including the memorial museum section where they learned about people who have been killed in previous conflicts in Colombia’s history.

‘It was emotional for them and from their to the kindergarten and then finally onto the garden where they helped plant two trees.

‘There was music and dancing as they went around the school and they joined in with the dancing. Then Harry had a go at the punching bag in the gym.

‘They were super excited when they were given the presents and because the children in the kindergarten are the same age as Archie. ‘

Prince Harry and Meghan at Centro Nacional de las Artes Delia Zapata in Bogota yesterday

Meghan Markle dances at Centro Nacional de las Artes Delia Zapata in Bogota yesterday

The first stop inside was to look at the school’s historical memory museum where students share art they’ve created commemorating those killed in past Colombian conflicts.

The students described the room as a space meant for creation and collaboration and their artwork is made to honour the resilience of the Colombian people.

For a visit to a kindergarten class, the Duke and Duchess spent time with students, and worked on puzzles, while they conversed with the class.

Ms Basto said that once again Meghan spoke Spanish to the children and told one student:’You’re the same age as my son Archie!”

Prince Harry also practised his Spanish, asking students their names and age.

The kindergarteners also performed a song for the Duke and Duchess before presenting them with gifts of ponchos and dolls for Archie and Lilibet and handwritten letters.

Following the kindergarten visit, the Duke and Duchess and the ice president Marquez went to the school’s garden.

The garden has existed since 2020 and was created for students to not only learn to appreciate the Earth but also the farmers of Colombia who provide food for the country.

The Duke and Duchess also visited the school’s social and emotional gym, where Harry got down on his knees and donned boxing gloves before carrying out punches on a punch bag.

The exercises were part of a programme which highlights mental and physical exercises for students to learn how better balance their mental health and personal wellbeing.

The students demonstrated for the Duke, Duchess, and VP their own personal meditation techniques and how they balance their emotions, good and bad.

Harry and Meghan at Centro Nacional de las Artes Delia Zapata in Bogota yesterday

Harry and Meghan at Centro Nacional de las Artes Delia Zapata in Bogota yesterday

Harry meets a dancer at Centro Nacional de las Artes Delia Zapata in Bogota yesterday

Harry and Meghan with dancers at Centro Nacional de las Artes Delia Zapata yesterday

During their four-day visit the Sussexes will take in the city of Bogotá before heading off to Cartagena and Cali as part of a ‘cultural and social’ visit.

The couple attended a summit on digital responsibility last night, during which Harry appeared to take a swipe at Elon Musk.

He told the audience in Bogota on Thursday: ‘What happens online within a matter of minutes transfers to the streets. People are acting on information that isn’t true.’

He added that a lot of people were ‘scared and uncertain ‘about the potential impact of AI and that ‘education and awareness’ would be key to tacking misinformation.

X founder Musk has come under intense criticism for misinformation on his platform relating to the events, with the world’s richest man even falling victim to it after sharing a fake story about Sir Keir Starmer looking at detainment camps for rioters.

And Harry said: ‘It comes down to all of us to be able to spot the true from the fake. In an ideal world those with positions of influence would take more responsibility.

‘We are no longer debating facts. For as long as people are allowed to spread lies, abuse, harass, then social cohesion as we know it has completely broken down.’

Meghan also told how the ‘digital age has almost created a culture where if you don’t have anything cool to say, don’t say anything at all – and that is fundamentally changing how we move through the world, how we connect with each other’.

Earlier yesterday, Harry and Meghan were met in Bogota by Colombia’s vice-president Francia Marquez and her husband Rafael Yerney Pinillo.

They spent around half-an-hour at the vice-president’s residence, where they exchanged welcome gifts and were offered tea, coffee and traditional pandebono – Colombian cheese bread.

Answering questions from journalists at a press conference ahead of their arrival, Ms Marquez said she was inspired to ask Harry and Meghan to visit the country after being moved by their Netflix documentary.

‘I saw the Netflix series about their life, their story and that moved me and motivated me to say that this is a woman who deserves to come to our country and tell her story and her exchange will undoubtedly be an empowerment to so many women in the world,’ Ms Marquez said.

Harry and Meghan watch dancers at Centro Nacional de las Artes Delia Zapata yesterday

Harry and Meghan pose for a photo at Centro Nacional de las Artes Delia Zapata yesterday 

Harry and Meghan pose for a photo at Centro Nacional de las Artes Delia Zapata yesterday 

Harry and Meghan watch at Centro Nacional de las Artes Delia Zapata in Bogota yesterday

Harry and Meghan with Colombia’s vice-president Francia Marquez and Rafael Yerney Pinillo

Harry and Meghan watch dancers at Centro Nacional de las Artes Delia Zapata yesterday

Meghan meets a dancer at Centro Nacional de las Artes Delia Zapata in Bogota yesterday 

Harry and Meghan applaud at Centro Nacional de las Artes Delia Zapata in Bogota yesterday

Harry and Meghan at Centro Nacional de las Artes Delia Zapata in Bogota yesterday

The Sussexes’ controversial six-part Netflix show, aired just three months after Queen Elizabeth II’s death, laid bare their troubled relationship with the royal family and the struggles which led to their decision to step back from the working monarchy.

Ms Marquez described the Sussexes’ trip as a ‘very special visit’ aimed at building bridges and joining forces against cyber-bullying and online digital violence and discrimination, as well as promoting women’s leadership in Colombia.

The quasi-royal tour, which has many similarities to the programme of an official royal overseas visit, is the Sussexes’ second this year, after their three-day visit to Nigeria at the invitation of the West African nation’s chief of defence staff. 

Harper’s Bazaar magazine, covering the trip as the only words pool, said Ms Marquez shared her personal admiration for Harry’s late mother Diana, Princess of Wales.

Meghan and Ms Marquez were pictured embracing as they greeted each other warmly, with Ms Marquez clasping Harry’s hands in her own as they were introduced yesterday.

The Sussexes were colour co-ordinated style-wise, with the duchess in a navy halterneck top and trousers and Harry in a dark blue suit and light blue shirt.

During the sit-down chat, Ms Marquez said she shared the same ideals and goals as Harry and Meghan amid their campaign to make the digital world safer for children.

Harry and Meghan visited a local school, the Colegio Cultura Popular, and joined a summit, in collaboration with their Archewell Foundation, about creating a healthier digital landscape.

They spoke to children in a session where the class talked about their favourite and least favourite parts of social media, technology and dealing with life on the internet.

Meghan said the group should aim to be ‘self-reliant and not tech-reliant’ while Harry about asked the conversations they have with their families about managing social media and literacy.