Meghan Markle and ‘upset’ Prince Harry ’embarrassed’ over tour reaction and are at a ‘crossroads’

EXCLUSIVE: After receiving mixed reviews regarding their recent tour to Colombia, the Sussexes are said to be facing a crossroads as they work out what their next moves will be

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in formalwear
Harry and Meghan have once again been slammed by critics for their latest project

When Prince Harry and Meghan Markle agreed to do a tour of Colombia, they were hoping that the success of it would help confirm their status as the world’s ‘alternative royal family ’.

However, the four-day trip didn’t exactly create the reception they wanted and instead, there was a huge backlash against their visit. As well as being accused of costing the poverty- stricken country £1.5 million in security costs alone, many people felt they were trying to outdo Harry’s family by trying to do an official royal tour, despite them quitting their roles in the Royal Family over four years ago. It came three months after they were accused of staging their own royal tour during their three-day visit to Nigeria and commenters say they can’t have the best of both worlds.

“They quit the royals, so why are they trying to do official visits and take attention away from the real royals?” one asked, while another fumed, “Meghan and Harry want to have their cake and eat it. But they need to decide if they want to be Hollywood stars or royalty, you can’t be both.”

Harry and Meghan in Cali, Colombia
They visited the South American country
Although they are back home now in America with their two children – Archie, five, and three-year-old Lilibet – the couple faced more criticism from Columbian official Andres Escobar who claims they were only invited by the country’s vice president Francia Marquez “because she saw them on Netflix.” He then said it was unfair on all Columbians that they had to pay so much money to have Harry and Meghan visit.

“There are many, many Colombians who are hungry and have a lack of basic needs,” he claimed. “They invested this money because the Vice President wanted to meet two high profile public figures and brush aside criticism and problems that we have here. We are in an economic crisis and eight billion pesos have been spent for the visit of Harry and Meghan, Colombian military planes and helicopters have been used and the money could have been better spent.”

While the Duke and Duchess of Sussex did win some praise, especially for how relaxed they were with locals and Meghan, 43, for speaking in Spanish, it will be a bitter blow for them.

Harry and Meghan on tour in Colombia
They received some praise for how they interacted with locals
They are keen to be seen on the same level as Prince William and Kate Middleton, a source claimed, but without all the royal protocol, but their plan doesn’t seem to be working at the moment.

“Both Meghan and Harry are keen to do more of these tours as that’s what they love doing and what they enjoyed most about royal life,” a source told .

“But they’ve been left embarrassed by this latest backlash, especially as they faced similar comments when they went to Nigeria. They want to help raise awareness to the issues some of these countries face and they know their profile can highlight that. They also know that these trips help elevate their status in Hollywood and in turn help their brand. They don’t want to stop doing them but are unsure of what to do next to win everyone over again.”

It’s quite an emotional time for them as Harry’s 40th birthday is coming up and while he may no longer be close to his family, he may also be starting to feel very far away from his old life and friends.

Sources claim he is at a crossroads in his life as he reached the milestone and is thinking about the past because his new life hasn’t panned out the way he thought it might.

“As he approaches 40, Harry has quite understandably been thinking about the past and it does upset him that he doesn’t really see any of his family and all of his friends he grew up,” a royal source claimed.

They have been ’embarrassed’ by some of the reaction, the source claims
The source believes, “He would never change the life he’s got with Meghan and the kids for anything but at times he feels quite isolated and he always thought he would celebrate his 40th surrounded by lots of friends and family. He feels sad about everything that has happened but he knows nothing will change before then.”

But no matter what he feels about the past, he is determined to give his children the safe and secure upbringing and have a happy and strong marriage with Meghan.

He never wants his kids to go through the pain he went through and Meghan feels the same as she’s seen the mental scars from his upbringing.

Our source said, “Meghan and Harry are used to the criticism and backlash and try not to let it bother them. They have had to go through so much during their eight-year relationship and are certain nothing can break them. Whatever happens, they will support each other. Nobody thought they would survive leaving the royals and that the stress of uprooting their entire lives would take its toll. As well as Harry cutting off his family, Meghan only now speaks to her mother from her side and has nothing to do with her dad. But it’s made them stronger and they are prepared to fight for their marriage and for the for future for the sake of their family. It’s a testing time right now and they both feel at a crossroad, so they need to think carefully about their next steps. But one thing’s for sure, they will come out fighting.”