British Royals To Visit Colombia

Aim to expand trade and strengthen co-operation in fight against drugs

PRINCE CHARLES and his wife Camilla will visit Colombia on an official four day visit on October 30.

The Royal visit was sparked by an invitation from President Juan Manuel Santos as well as a request from the UK Foreign Office, with the aim of strengthening co-operation in the fight against drugs and crime, and expanding trade links, media reports said.

According to a press release from the prince’s royal residence Clarence House, Charles will discuss the above-mentioned topics with President Santos.

The Prince of Wales has only visited Colombia once before, in 1974, when he was a naval officer on HMS Minerva. It will be the Duchess of Cornwall’s first time in the country.

The Royal couple will begin their five-day visit in Bogota, where they will attend an official welcome at the presidential palace.

Other engagements in Bogota will focus on traditional arts and crafts, historical architecture, organic food and wool, trade and investment and a celebration of the British Council’s 75th anniversary in Colombia.

They will then attend a peace and reconciliation ceremony to pay respect to the victims of Colombia’s armed conflict, before the prince visits the Macarena National Park in southern Colombia.

By Steven Gratten