Prince Harry and Meghan Markle 's quasi-royal tour is in full swing - and today they got their groove on at a drumming school session.
The couple arrived at the event, held in a barn-style building, yards from the Caribbean Sea in a suburb of the port city of Cartagena. Meghan wore a sleek black dress and carried a cream-colored handbag , while Harry plumped a blue linen shirt, sunglasses and beige chinos.
Students from the school, called Escuela Taller Tambores de Cabildo de la Boquilla, which preserves the art-form of traditional African drumming, performed for them amid tight security.
The astonishing security detail included heavily armed soldiers, police officers and sharp-suited private security guards, as well as snipers and drones. A van containing a chemical biological nuclea r response unit joined the huge cavalcade of vehicles that arrived alongside the couple.
On arrival, Harry and Meghan were greeted by the booming sounds of drums and the school's founder Rafael Ramos. Onlookers cried their names as they rushed into the building, but before the entered, the couple were greeted by warm handshakes.
According to body language expert Judi James, Meghan was in her element at the loud and colourful event, while Harry appeared more reserved and slightly glum they walked in.
She said: "Harry and Meghan have traditionally shared the lead role of some of their events in the past, taking it in turns to step into the spotlight. Day three of this tour though throws up some body language rituals that seem to suggest it's still Meghan in the lead as she was from their arrival, stepping into the greeting rituals with a keenness, a perfect smile and almost regal grace while Harry appears to be lurking, waiting his turn or standing behind Meghan looking slightly downcast.
"Meghan has clearly perfected the art of the gracious perma-smile but Harry's expressions appear to fluctuate, smiling, laughing and gesticulating one minute but looking more disconnected the next as he waits his turn. As a prince he might still be unused to the change in roles. Royal protocol would tend to ensure he was the feted as the lead and the centre of attention on visits.
"His body language seems to look increasingly awkward as he waits in the wings here though, appearing to be at a loss as to what to do as his smile dies and his eyes begin to drop downward, although the way he stops to turn to throw a cheery wave and smile as he leaves suggests he is still enjoying his visit."
After the opening performance, the Sussexes and Colombia's Vice President Francia Marquez listened to local community members that included children, teenagers, parents, and elders, about the importance of preserving the culture of Cartagena, and specifically it's Afro-Colombian roots. Cartegena is an area specifically being impacted by gentrification and a booming tourism industry.
Harry and Meghan were gifted a small handcrafted wooden boat from a student, an ode to the beautiful coastal town and its beaches, before joining in with a drum lesson led by the students, followed by a performance from some of the locals which brought both the Vice President and Meghan to their feet.
Rafael Ramos was ecstatic to see the duchess's reaction to the performances throughout the morning, saying in Spanish: "I love seeing Meghan's big, big smile — I can tell she’s excited!" Following the musical performance, Vice President Márquez gave an impassioned speech about the inherent importance of tradition when it comes to preserving Colombian heritage.
Speaking to the crowd, which included members of her own family, she said that towns like Cartagena represent the heart of Colombian culture and the art of drumming in particular symbolises freedom for Black communities around the world. The Vice President also said that part of her decision to invite Harry and Meghan to Colombia was because she views them as a joint symbol of resistance and two vital voices against injustice. She said: "The Duke and Duchess came to Colombia…this is Colombia. This is where the roots of our ancestors and our forefathers are from. A community like this cannot be displaced."
After spending just over an hour at the school, the couple then left in a silver SUV that was part of a 12-vehicle cavalcade, which departed along a sandy beach next to the Caribbean Sea.
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