Context:

Prince Harry retraced his mother Princess Diana's steps by donning a flak jacket and walking through an active land mine field in Angola to support the Halo Trust's mission of clearing explosives from former war zones. Diana's iconic walk in a minefield in 1997 significantly contributed to the advocacy for a global land mine ban treaty. Harry's visit highlights the ongoing dangers posed by land mines in Angola, which remain from the country's prolonged civil war. Despite the Halo Trust's efforts since 1994, Angola still has around 1,000 minefields that need clearing, with significant casualties reported since 2008. This visit marks Harry's second such engagement in Angola, following a similar campaign in 2019 to honor his mother's legacy and raise awareness of the issue.

Dive Deeper:

• Prince Harry visited an active land mine field in Angola, wearing a flak jacket, to draw attention to the Halo Trust's efforts in clearing these dangerous remnants of war. His actions mirror those of his mother, Princess Diana, whose similar walk in 1997 helped galvanize international support for a land mine ban.

• Princess Diana's advocacy in 1997, captured in iconic images, played a crucial role in mobilizing global support for a treaty banning land mines, which was ratified later that same year.

• Harry's walk through a minefield near Cuito Cuanavale underscores the ongoing threat posed by land mines, which are a deadly legacy of Angola's 27-year civil war that ended in 2002.

• The Halo Trust has been active in Angola since 1994, successfully locating and destroying over 120,000 land mines and 100,000 other explosive devices, yet significant work remains with approximately 1,000 minefields still present.

• The presence of land mines has resulted in at least 60,000 casualties in Angola since 2008, highlighting the urgent need for continued demining efforts to prevent further loss of life.

• Harry's visit in 2023 is not his first; he previously traveled to Angola in 2019 for a similar cause, reflecting his commitment to continuing his mother's humanitarian work.

• The ongoing demining efforts by Halo Trust are crucial for the safety and development of Angolan communities, as land mines still pose a significant barrier to progress and safety.