Prince Harry urged by Prince William’s friend to apologize for cocaine use during Colombia trip
It’s time for the prince to say sorry.
A friend of Prince William’s thinks Prince Harry needs to apologize for his past cocaine use in his youth during his and wife Meghan Markle’s upcoming trip to Colombia, where drug-related crime is ensuing across the country.
“Harry admitted to doing coke in his book,” the unnamed friend told The Daily Beast on Sunday.
“His trip to Colombia should include an admission that the country has been destroyed by narco-terrorists servicing wealthy drug users in the west, and he should stand up and apologize for his own participation in that disgusting trade,” they continued. “That would be a helpful intervention.”
In his 2023 memoir “Spare,” Harry, 39, revealed that he tried cocaine when he was 17 years old “to feel different.”
“Of course I had been taking cocaine at that time,” he wrote in the book. “At someone’s house, during a hunting weekend, I was offered a line, and since then I had consumed some more.”
“It wasn’t very fun, and it didn’t make me feel especially happy as seemed to happen to others, but it did make me feel different, and that was my main objective. To feel. To be different,” he said.
In his interview with Anderson Cooper on “60 Minutes” last year, Harry said he relied on alcohol and drugs — such as cocaine, pot and psychedelics — in response to his mother Princess Diana’s tragic death.
Harry and Meghan, 43, are set to kick off their next international trip to Colombia on Thursday.
Vice President of Colombia Francia Márquez announced the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s upcoming visit in a statement earlier this month.
“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,” Márquez, 42, said about the couple. “In addition to these meaningful interactions, the Duke and Duchess will experience the rich heritage of Colombia.”
Harry and Meghan are going to Colombia timed to the first World Ministerial Conference on the Elimination of Violence Against Children, which will take place in November.
The Sussexes recently started a new initiative, The Parents Network, aimed at helping parents whose children have been affected by bullying on social media.
In response to the reason for Harry and Meghan’s visit to Colombia, William’s friend told The Daily Beast, “I can’t imagine online trolling is the biggest risk to children being exploited, enslaved and murdered by drugs gangs.”
The Post has reached out to Harry’s reps for comment.
Harry’s past drug use has caused major controversy, to the point where he’s facing possible deportation.
He allegedly didn’t mention his history with drugs on his application forms filed before he relocated to the United States in 2020. The government warns immigrants that making misleading or false claims on government paperwork is grounds for deportation.
The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, sued the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for Harry’s documents, saying they are in the public interest.
However, lawyers for the DHS have previously declared that releasing the paperwork would be “an unwarranted invasion of Prince Harry’s privacy.”
Former president Donald Trump said in March he would consider deporting Harry if he’s reelected and it’s discovered that the former working royal lied on his application for a US visa.
“We’ll have to see if they know something about the drugs, and if he lied, they’ll have to take appropriate action,” Trump said in an interview with GB News presenter Nigel Farage.
Prince Harry urged by Prince William’s friend to apologize for cocaine use during Colombia trip
Prince Harry urged by Prince William’s friend to apologize for cocaine use during Colombia trip
Prince William at the Royal Charity Polo match on July 12, 2024.
Prince William at the Royal Charity Polo match on July 12, 2024. © UK Press via Getty Images
Prince Harry at the 2024 ESPY Awards.
Prince Harry at the 2024 ESPY Awards. © Getty Images
Prince Harry’s memoir “Spare.”
Prince Harry’s memoir “Spare.” © Getty Images
Prince Harry in Nigeria on May 11, 2024.
Prince Harry in Nigeria on May 11, 2024. © AFP via Getty Images
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry arrive at the Lagos airport in Nigeria.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry arrive at the Lagos airport in Nigeria. © Getty Images for The Archewell Foundation
Prince Harry, Meghan Marle in Nigeria.
Prince Harry, Meghan Marle in Nigeria. © REUTERS
Prince Harry, Meghan Markle at the 2024 ESPY Awards.
Prince Harry, Meghan Markle at the 2024 ESPY Awards. © Getty Images for W+P
Prince Harry in Nigeria.
Prince Harry in Nigeria. © REUTERS
Prince William at the Royal Charity Polo match on July 12, 2024. UK Press via Getty Images
Prince William at the Royal Charity Polo match on July 12, 2024. UK Press via Getty Images
Prince Harry at the 2024 ESPY Awards. Getty Images
Prince Harry at the 2024 ESPY Awards. Getty Images
Prince Harry’s memoir “Spare.” Getty Images
Prince Harry’s memoir “Spare.” Getty Images
Prince Harry in Nigeria on May 11, 2024. AFP via Getty Images
Prince Harry in Nigeria on May 11, 2024. AFP via Getty Images
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry arrive at the Lagos airport in Nigeria. Getty Images for The Archewell Foundation
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry arrive at the Lagos airport in Nigeria. Getty Images for The Archewell Foundation
Prince Harry, Meghan Marle in Nigeria. REUTERS
Prince Harry, Meghan Marle in Nigeria. REUTERS
Prince Harry, Meghan Markle at the 2024 ESPY Awards. Getty Images for W+P
Prince Harry, Meghan Markle at the 2024 ESPY Awards. Getty Images for W+P
Prince Harry in Nigeria. REUTERS
Prince Harry in Nigeria. REUTERS
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Harry and Meghan ‘tour’ being used as distraction from Colombia’s problems, residents claim
Story by Hayley Dixon
• 14h • 3 min read
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are being “manipulated” as their tour of Colombia this week will be used to divert attention away from political scandals, it has been alleged.
Prince Harry and Meghan will arrive in the South American country on Thursday for a four-day tour at the invitation of Francia Márquez,.the vice-president.
They will “engage with leaders, youth, and women who embody the aspirations and voices of Colombians committed to progress” as well as enjoying the “vibrant locations” of the capital Bogotá, Cartagena and Cali, the authorities have said.
But residents warned that the pair are being used as “political pawns” by the Left-wing government which has been dogged by corruption scandals.
One prominent lawyer based in Bogota told the Mail on Sunday: “I’m sure Meghan and Harry mean well, but everyone here is talking about how obviously they are being manipulated.
“Of course, their star power will be used to bring attention to poor people and certain areas of culture in Colombia but the reality is the Colombian government has been drowning in scandal since it came in two years ago. They need something to appease people at home and make them look good abroad.”
The Sussexes’ trip to the crime-ridden country was announced by Ms Márquez just days after the Duke said it was too dangerous to bring his wife to Britain.
He has been embroiled in a long-running dispute with the Home Office and Royal family over his security in the UK, and has lost a case demanding a review of what is provided.
In an ITV interview about tabloid phone hacking in July 2024, he said of the UK: “All it takes is for one lone actor who reads this stuff to act on what they’ve read.
“Whether it’s a knife or acid, whatever it is, and these are things that are of genuine concern for me.
“It’s one of the reasons why I won’t bring my wife back to this country.”
UK government travel advice warns that “terrorists are very likely to try and carry out attacks in Colombia”, there is a risk of kidnapping by armed groups and the country is “seriously afflicted by conflict” and cocaine turf wars.
Colombia is described by the US government as a “Level 3” or “orange” risk, with advice stating: “Reconsider travel due to crime and terrorism. Exercise increased caution due to civil unrest and kidnapping.”
In the country summary published by the Bureau of Consular Affairs, it says: “Violent crime, such as homicide, assault and armed robbery is widespread. Organised criminal activities such as extortion, robbery and kidnapping, are common in some areas.”
Bomb left near her house
The exact details of the Sussexes’ trip are being kept under wraps for security reasons.
Ms Márquez, 42, the first black woman to hold the post of vice-president in the country, already has a beefed-up security detail following several assassination attempts including a bomb left near her home.
She has used the attempts on her life to defend herself against critics who question why she needs to use a Black Hawk helicopter for her commute.
Miguel Polo Polo, a member of the house of representatives of Colombia, wrote on X: “Francia Márquez 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.”
The government is embroiled in corruption scandals including one involving the son of president Gustavo Petr, who was arrested in 2023 as part of a high-profile money-laundering investigation into funds he allegedly collected from convicted drug traffickers. Nicolás Petro has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The Duke and Duchess have been contacted for comment.
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The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will arrive in the South American country on Thursday
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will arrive in the South American country on Thursday © Joshua Sammer/Getty Images
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will arrive in the South American country on Thursday – Joshua Sammer/Getty Images
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will arrive in the South American country on Thursday – Joshua Sammer/Getty Images
Francia Marqueza has a beefed-up security detail following several assassination attempts – Sebastian Barros/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Francia Marqueza has a beefed-up security detail following several assassination attempts – Sebastian Barros/NurPhoto via Getty Images
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