Prince Harry has once again honoured his mother’s legacy by retracing her steps in Angola, walking through a landmine field to raise awareness about the ongoing dangers of unexploded ordnance that continue to devastate the civilian population.
Visiting the Central African country to support the work of The Halo Trust, a British charity dedicated to clearing landmines, Harry emphasized the urgent need for action. “Children should never have to live in fear of playing outside or walking to school,” said the Duke of Sussex, highlighting the continued threat of mines that remain embedded in the land years after conflicts have ended.
Princess Diana’s 1997 visit to Angola became a global symbol of the fight against landmines. The haunting image of her walking through a minefield, clad in body armour and a visor, drew international attention to the plight of millions of people affected by the remnants of war.
Harry’s visit this year took him to a village close to one of Angola’s many minefields. There, he met with children who are taught how to avoid triggering landmines. Despite the charity’s efforts in clearing over 120,000 mines, there remain approximately 1,000 minefields across the country, and around 60,000 people have been killed or injured by landmines since 2008.
“The remnants of war still threaten lives every day,” Prince Harry said, underlining the long-term impact of these hidden dangers on Angola’s people. The Halo Trust’s ongoing work to clear these mines is essential to ensuring a safer future for the communities still at risk.
This visit marks the second time Prince Harry has participated in the Halo Trust’s efforts in Angola. In 2019, he joined the charity’s team to witness the mine clearance process first-hand, even setting off a controlled explosion in a partially-cleared minefield.
In a further demonstration of the UK’s commitment, Prince Harry also met with Angola’s President, Joao Lourenco, earlier this week. The President pledged renewed governmental support for the charity’s mission, reaffirming Angola’s stance on landmine clearance.
In a poignant moment, James Cowan, CEO of The Halo Trust, stated: “We will continue our work in solidarity with the Angolan people until every last mine is cleared.”
The imagery of Princess Diana’s 1997 visit continues to resonate. Her support for the global ban on landmines, at a time when such an international agreement seemed far-fetched, helped shift public opinion and brought about policy changes worldwide. Today, the minefield she once walked through has been cleared, and the site is now home to the Princess Diana School, where local children receive an education free from the threat of landmines.
Prince Harry’s visit reaffirms the deep connection between the royal family and the cause of humanitarian work, continuing the legacy of Princess Diana and drawing attention to an issue that remains tragically relevant nearly three decades later.
