Prince Harry has continued the humanitarian legacy of his late mother, Princess Diana, by visiting Angola to support the Halo Trust, a charity dedicated to landmine clearance. During his recent visit, the Duke of Sussex emphasized the urgent need to protect children from the lingering dangers of landmines, stating, “Children should never have to live in fear of playing outside or walking to school.”
This high-impact visit mirrors Princess Diana’s historic 1997 trip to Angola, where she was famously photographed walking through an active minefield a powerful image that drew global attention to the landmine crisis. Today, more than two decades later, Angola remains one of the most mine-contaminated countries in the world, with approximately 1,000 minefields still threatening civilian lives.
Since 2008, landmines have killed or injured an estimated 60,000 people in Angola. The Halo Trust, with continued royal support, has already cleared over 120,000 mines. During this latest visit, Prince Harry met with children from local communities who are taught safety measures to avoid triggering unexploded ordnance and walked through an active clearance site, retracing his 2019 steps when he also joined a controlled detonation effort.
Earlier this week, Prince Harry met with Angolan President João Lourenço to commend the government’s ongoing support for mine clearance and to advocate for sustained investment in demining operations. James Cowan, CEO of the Halo Trust, affirmed the organization’s commitment, saying, “We will continue our work in solidarity with the Angolan people until every last mine is cleared.”
One of the most symbolic achievements of Princess Diana’s mission is visible today: the minefield she once walked through is now a vibrant community, home to schools including the Princess Diana School where children can learn and play without fear.
This powerful return to Angola by Prince Harry not only pays tribute to his mother’s bold stance against landmines but also reinforces the ongoing international effort to rid the world of these hidden remnants of war.
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