Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s flashy 2024 trip to Colombia is facing explosive new scrutiny after a royal author claimed the so-called “faux royal tour” was quietly financed by billionaire George Soros.
According to author Tom Bower’s new book Betrayal: Power, Deceit and the Fight for the Future of the Royal Family, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s four-day visit to the South American country came with a jaw-dropping $3.8 million price tag. And while the trip was publicly framed as a high-profile international visit at the invitation of Colombian Vice President Francia Márquez, Bower claims the true source of funding was kept under wraps.
Harry, 41, and Meghan, 44, traveled through Bogotá, Cartagena, and Cali during the tour, staying in luxury hotels, flying by private jet, and reportedly moving around with a security operation so large it was compared to something out of a James Bond movie. The couple allegedly stayed in Bogotá’s Four Seasons presidential suite, along with top-tier suites in Cartagena and Cali, with nightly costs topping $3,000. On top of that, eight extra rooms were reportedly needed for their team.
The huge cost quickly raised eyebrows in Colombia, especially as critics questioned why such an expensive visit was taking place in a country facing serious political and economic turmoil. Márquez reportedly told government officials that the visit cost Colombia only $59,360, claiming the rest was covered by unnamed “philanthropic sources.”
That vague explanation is where the story takes an even more dramatic turn.
Bower claims those “philanthropic sources” were tied to Open Society, the international charity network founded by George Soros. According to the book, Márquez and Meghan allegedly agreed that Soros’ involvement should remain secret, including the reported use of private jets during the trip.
The mystery surrounding the funding has only deepened because Archewell, Harry and Meghan’s foundation, publicly said it covered the couple’s hotel and travel costs, yet those expenses reportedly did not show up in the organization’s public financial statements.
Bower recently doubled down on the allegations during an appearance on Kinsey Schofield Unfiltered, where he said the entire Colombia trip remains “shrouded in unbelievable mystery and secrecy.” He also claimed Márquez initially hoped the Sussexes would leave behind a significant charitable donation through Archewell, but was disappointed when they allegedly contributed only $8,000.
He suggested the small donation was nowhere near what their host had expected after rolling out the red carpet for the couple’s heavily publicized visit.
As if the financial questions were not enough, Bower also alleged Meghan used the trip as a platform to elevate her personal style brand. He claimed she changed outfits four or five times a day, with attention repeatedly drawn to the clothes, accessories, and fashion details she wore throughout the tour.
The result, according to critics, was a visit that looked less like diplomacy and more like a high-end image campaign wrapped in secrecy.
Neither Harry and Meghan nor George Soros have publicly addressed the allegations in Bower’s book. But with fresh claims swirling around who really paid for the luxury trip, the Sussexes are once again facing uncomfortable questions about money, image, and what exactly their post-royal brand has become.
Leave a Reply