Prince Harry and wife Meghan Markle are into their third day of their quasi royal tour of Colombia, They were welcomed to San Basilio de Palenque, which was established as the first free African town in the Americas in 1619.
Ahead of their visit, there was anticipation among locals that Prince Harry might use the opportunity to address the British royal family’s historical involvement in the colonial slave trade. Segundo Caceres Reyes, the 49-year-old president of the local police in San Basilio de Palenque, voiced this sentiment, saying, “I think he does have to [apologize], to free our hearts and our minds and ask for a pardon,” as reported by a private news outlet.
King Charles’ disastrous 2014 visit to Columbia
Almost ten years back in November of 2014, the then mayor of the Colombian port city of Cartagena asked for a controversial plaque unveiled a week prior by Prince Charles (Now King of England) to be removed.
The plaque memorialized a British naval officer and his troops who had laid siege to the city in 1741 in an attempt to take it from the Spanish, which ruled it at the time.
It was unveiled by King Charles (then Prince) on his visit to the city on that tour.
The lack of mention of the Spanish losses was criticised by residents.
The plaque was also damaged by a local protester, who was detained by tourist police officers.
