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It has recently been confirmed by a Spanish journalist that Meghan Markle and Prince Harry had a very tightly controlled media presence during their recent trip to Colombia. Jose Mourinho, a writer who covers royal news, revealed that no independent press were allowed to cover their arrival or activities while in the country. This has raised serious questions about transparency and whether the couple are attempting to curate a perfect PR image rather than showing the reality of their work.
Mourinho highlighted the excessive amount of expensive jewelry Meghan wore during one of their official appearances. She donned over $55,000 worth of Bulgari pieces, including an $18,000 necklace and $28,000 watch. This seemed wildly out of touch given that the average annual salary in Colombia is just $1,200 and poverty rates are very high. Wearing such ostentatious wealth sent the wrong message and seemed “cold and arrogant”.
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Other media outlets like GB News and royal commentators picked up on this story. They noted the apparent contradiction between advocating for compassion while “flashing wealth” among some of the poorest people in South America. There were also concerns that Meghan and Harry wanted “control” over their image rather than transparency. As the royal news network RNOR argued, excluding independent media allows them to curate their message without accountability.
The most alarming revelation was that the Colombian government had agreed to restrict press access and coverage at the request of Harry and Meghan. Normally a state visit from senior royals would involve widespread coverage, but a censorship operation appears to have been implemented instead. Live broadcast streams of their arrival were abruptly cancelled at the last minute with no explanation.
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Why would the couple need such intense “protection” from truthful reporting if they had nothing to hide? As RNOR posited, this secrecy reflects a desire for propaganda over transparency. Like authoritarian regimes, Meghan and Harry seem to want total management over any information shared about their work. But clamping down on a free press is undemocratic and breeds distrust.
Their behavior has drawn comparisons to the propagandistic tactics of North Korea’s Kim Jong-un, who meticulously controls all media narratives about himself. But Western liberal democracies are built on principles of accountability, oversight and a free flow of information. Shutting out independent reporting sets a poor and alarming precedent, as it implies they have something to cover up.
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While the couple claim to value privacy, their actions show they value control above all else. As Meghan admitted in their recent Netflix documentary, cultivating the “perfect image” takes priority over reflecting reality or dealing with legitimate criticism. But transparency should be an essential part of any public figure’s role, especially unelected ones influencing global policy debates.
Given these circumstances, it is understandable that many feel they cannot trust anything officially released by Meghan and Harry anymore. When a free press is denied access, propaganda becomes the only message available. But savvy audiences can see through contrived Instagram-aesthetic narratives, especially when contradicted by factual reporting from reputable journalists.
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Going forward, Meghan and Harry must change course or risk further damaging their reputations. Clamping down on media will only continue fuelling accusations of dictatorial control and secrecy. If they truly advocate for “compassion”, they should welcome balanced coverage of both successes and limitations of their efforts in Colombia. Otherwise, they risk becoming dictators of their own narratives rather than public figures serving the truth. The world is watching to see if they choose propaganda over press freedom in their future endeavors.
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In summary, the Spanish journalist’s confirmation that Meghan and Harry tightly controlled press access in Colombia is extremely concerning. It implies they value carefully stage-managing their image over transparency. Excluding independent reporting shuts down accountability and breeds distrust, with comparisons rightly being drawn to authoritarian propaganda tactics. The couple must embrace a freer press going forward or risk cementing a reputation as dictators of spin rather than servants of the truth.
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