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MEGHAN Markle and Prince Harry were all smiles as they met schoolkids and played volleyball with Invictus Games athletes.
The couple spent the second day of their Colombia tour in the capital Bogota visiting a school in the town of Santa Fe.
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They planted trees at La Giralda School and clapped along to youngsters dancing in traditional Colombian dress.
Speaking in Spanish, Meghan told one pupil: “You’re the same age as my son Archie”.
Harry also tried out his Spanish, asking students their names and ages.
The youngsters also performed a song for the Duke and Duchess before presenting them with gifts and handwritten letters.
Following the kindergarten visit, the Sussexes and the Vice President went to the school’s garden, where three trees had been planted to honour the visit.
The school hails the concept of an “outdoor classroom” and uses the serene space to teach student the value of the earth and work of farmers in Colombia.
Harry and Meghan then visited the school’s social and emotional gym, where pupils are taught how to balance their mental and physical health.
The students demonstrated for the Duke, Duchess, and Vice President their own personal meditation techniques and how they deal with different emotions.
On their final engagement of the tour, the Sussexes toured the Centro de Rehabilitación Inclusiva for a training session with the Invictus Games’ Team Colombia.
They were welcomed by military officials and a veteran band who performed a Cumbia and Salsa medley.
Harry and Meghan were given a tour of the space’s swimming pool, rock climbing wall gym, and rehabilitation facilities.
Athletes also discussed their regimens and work outs with the duke and duchess.
The duke said: “It’s amazing to see how many people can come together to form one team.”
“They are all so incredible to watch,” added the duchess.
The Sussexes along with Vice President Márquez and her partner Rafael Yerney Pinillo also sat in on a volleyball match.
Pinillo and Harry were called in and took part while the Vice President and Meghan cheered from the sidelines.
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A group of Korean War vets greeted Harry as he and Meghan walked around the center’s art hall, which featured pieces created by Invictus athletes.
The duchess was even gifted a painting, hand knitted animals, a beaded necklace and matching earrings from some of the artists.
Meanwhile, Harry was awarded a special commemorative plaque from the Ministry of National Defense Veterans.
“To Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex,” read an athlete while presenting the gift to the Duke.
“In recognition and gratitude for your dedication and invaluable opportunities for recovery through sports and the Invictus Games for Colombian wounded, injured, and sick Armed Forces and Police Personnel, serving or veterans,” they said.
Harry and Meghan have NO idea what they’re doing now they’ve lost their power
By Matt Wilkinson and Summer Raemason
PRINCE Harry and Meghan Markle ‘haven’t got a clue what they’re doing now they’ve lost all their power’, slammed a royal expert.
Victoria Murphy alleged the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who jetted to Colombia yesterday, have no clear purpose to be on the controversial trip.
The royal expert spoke to The Sun’s Royal Editor Matt Wilkinson on the Royal Exclusive show.
It comes as Harry and Meghan put on a loved-up display on the first day of their tour as they were welcomed in the capital Bogota by Colombia’s Vice President Francia Márquez and her husband Rafael Yerney Pinillo.
The couple beamed as they watched a performance at the Delia Zapata National Centre for the Arts in Bogotá.
Mrs Murphy told The Sun: “We don’t know who they’re going to meet. When Sophie Duchess of Edinburgh met Francia Márquez, she was there representing Britain so it was very clear what Sophie represented, and it was not the interest of the Colombian government.
“That’s what the working royals have, their message, their purpose, their representation is very clear when they go to other countries.
“With Harry and Meghan it’s not clear what Archewell’s stance is on a lot of things, in the same way.
“There’s no doubt it will draw attention, but what is the purpose of that attention and how well thought through is it being channeled?”
The Sussexes 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.
Ms Márquez said she was inspired to ask Harry and Meghan to visit the country after being moved by their Netflix documentary.
The vice-president described their trip as a “very special visit” aimed at building bridges and joining forces against cyber-bullying, as well as promoting women’s leadership in Colombia.
Mr Wilkinson highlighted Harry and Meghan’s new project The Parents Network and the couple’s CBS sit down interview last week.
“This cause is absolutely brilliant. I think it’s a really important cause for them to be championing but will it get the attention it deserves?,” said Ms Murphy.
She continued: “I wonder whether they could have made more impact with it talking as working royals.
“I feel sometimes it’s hard to see how everything fits together.
“With Harry and Meghan I feel they would benefit from being more focused on certain things and hammering home to the public ‘this is what we represent’.”
During Harry and Meg’s chat with Ms Marquez, the Colombian leader said she shared the same ideals amid their campaign to make the digital world safer for children.
The Sussexes also visited a local school, the Colegio Cultura Popular, yesterday and joined a summit, in collaboration with their Archewell Foundation, about forging a healthier online space.
They spoke to children in a session where the class talked about their favourite and least favourite parts of social media and technology.
Meghan said the group should aim to be “self-reliant and not tech-reliant” while Harry questioned them on the conversations they have with their families about managing their social media platforms.
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