On the eve of a highly publicised international trip to Colombia since moving to the US, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are making headlines for all the wrong reasons.

Prince Harry, 39, and Meghan Markle, 43, have just parted ways with their chief of staff, Josh Kettler, who quit after just three months in the job.

He joins up to 20 staffers who have worked for – and then left – the house of Sussex during their time in Britain and since the couple quit as working royals in 2020 and moved to the US.

It comes as Harry will not be returning to London to attend the funeral of his uncle, Robert Fellowes, 82 (brother-in-law to his late mother, Diana), citing security concerns in Britain.

He is embroiled in legal battles over his lack of official police protection.

Security concerns

Due to “being stripped of automatic security”, “Harry must inform authorities about any travel plans to the UK 28 days in advance”, writes People magazine.

However, Harry and Meghan went in May to Nigeria, where they highlighted their Archewell Foundation’s mental health initiatives for young people and promoted the Invictus Games.

The US Department of State’s Nigeria travel advisory (in place since September) states “armed robbery, assault, carjacking, kidnapping, hostage taking, roadside banditry and rape – is common throughout the country”.

“Kidnappings for ransom occur frequently, often targeting dual national citizens who have returned to Nigeria for a visit, as well as US citizens with perceived wealth.”

Colombia trip

On August 15, the Sussexes kick off what has been described as their second “quasi-royal tour” – royals but not working royals – to Bogotá and to the Pacific and Caribbean regions in Cartagena and Cali.

Colombia also has a level three classification to “reconsider travelling”, warning people to “keep a low profile” due to terrorist groups and criminal organisations carrying out attacks “with little or no warning”.

“The red carpet will be rolled out by a government that has had its fair share of controversy,” says The Times, revealing president Gustavo Petro recently “accused a rebel group commander of planning to have him assassinated”.

The Times speculates that Kettler, who was on a three-month trial and was expected to accompany Harry and Meghan, as he did to Nigeria, advised against travelling there.

Prince Harry and Meghan in Nigeria in May. Photo: Getty

‘Rich heritage’

At the invitation of vice president Francia Márquez, Harry and Meghan will join her “to engage with leaders, young people and women, who embody the aspirations and voices of Colombians committed to progress”.

“Their visit comes at a particularly significant time, as it precedes the first Global Ministerial Conference on the Elimination of Violence Against Children, which will take place in Colombia in November,” Márquez wrote on the country’s official gov.co website.

With issues close to their heart, on behalf of Archewell, Harry and Meghan will speak about cyber bullying, online exploitation and the impact of these threats on mental health.

Márquez says Colombia is a “beacon of culture and innovation”.

Harry and Meghan spoke about recently about child safety online with CBS’s Jane Pauley, in their first TV interview since the explosive Oprah Winfrey interview in 2021, where they accused the royal family of racism.

Harry and Meghan went to Nigeria as part of celebrations of the Invictus Games anniversary. Photo: Getty

Without staffers like Kettler on the ground in Colombia, UK royal author Tom Quinn said “it’s a serious blow” and the couple is “rudderless once again”.

He said Kettler had the “golden touch”, and Harry believed “he could reverse his declining popularity in the States and transform him into an internationally important figure”.

After the Nigeria trip, Harry told People he and Meghan would be travelling more to help make a difference in people’s lives.