Prince Harry has taken a poignant step in continuing his late mother’s humanitarian legacy, visiting a village in Angola to support landmine clearance efforts by the Halo Trust. His visit closely mirrors that of Princess Diana, whose iconic 1997 walk through a minefield in Huambo, clad in body armour and a visor, captured the world’s attention and galvanized global action against landmines.
During his recent visit, the Duke of Sussex met with children who receive vital education on how to avoid the deadly remnants of war. “Children should never have to live in fear of playing outside or walking to school,” he said, emphasizing the enduring threat that landmines pose to civilians, especially in post-conflict regions like Angola.
Angola’s decades-long civil war left a devastating legacy of landmines scattered across the country. Since 2008, an estimated 60,000 people have been killed or injured by these explosives. The Halo Trust, which has cleared over 120,000 landmines in Angola, continues to work tirelessly to eliminate the remaining 1,000 minefields that still pose a risk.
Prince Harry, who serves as a patron of the Halo Trust, has long been committed to landmine clearance advocacy. He previously visited Angola in 2019, where he walked through a partially cleared minefield and participated in a controlled detonation, highlighting the ongoing dangers and the importance of international support.
Earlier this week, Prince Harry met with Angola’s President Joao Lourenco and expressed appreciation for the government’s renewed commitment to the Halo Trust’s mission. James Cowan, the charity’s chief executive, reaffirmed their determination: “We will continue our work in solidarity with the Angolan people until every last mine is cleared.”
This recent visit underscores Prince Harry’s dedication to humanitarian causes and his desire to honor Princess Diana’s enduring legacy. Just as her 1997 visit brought global awareness to the issue, Harry’s continued involvement keeps the spotlight on the lives still at risk and the vital work that remains.
As Angola rebuilds, the hope is that one day, no child will have to learn how to avoid a landmine on their way to school a future that both Princess Diana and Prince Harry have passionately envisioned.
