Royal news – live: Harry and Meghan’s ‘immense’ Colombia security revealed as Kate’s recovery timeline emerges

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been described as ‘political pawns’

The scale of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s security detail on their four-day tour of Colombia has been revealed.

Having landed in the country’s capital of Bogotá on Thursday, the pair wasted little time in greeting Francia Marquez, Colombia’s vice president, where they enjoyed lunch and discussed their goals for the visit including championing online safety.

Despite the seemingly relaxed first encounter, the Sussexes landed in a country going through some political turmoil with the government accused in some quarters of using the former working royals as “political pawns” to obscure a string of corruption allegations.

In light of this, the duke and duchess were reported to have been assigned an “immense security presence” with a “14 car and police van convoys”, according to a reporter covering the trip.

Despite the seemingly relaxed first encounter, the Sussexes landed in a country going through some political turmoil with the government accused in some quarters of using the former working royals as “political pawns” to obscure a string of corruption allegations.

In light of this, the duke and duchess were reported to have been assigned an “immense security presence” with a “14 car and police van convoys”, according to a reporter covering the trip.

“The direction is positive [but] there will not be great change [in terms of her public appearances] and no one is giving a timescale for her return,” the Daily Mail’s royal editor Rebecca English said.