Prince Harry pays tribute to Diana's legacy as he retraces her footsteps in Angola

Robert Jobson27 September 2019

Prince Harry today made an emotional speech after retracing his late mother’s footsteps in Angola.

The Duke of Sussex, in the African nation to continue her legacy, walked down the same spot where the late Diana, Princess of Wales donned body armour and a visor to walk through a partially cleared landmine just months before her death in 1997.

Now a father himself, Harry went to the spot in Huambo - which is now a bustling town with shops and homes - where Diana completed her famous landmine walk.

He said: “It has been emotional retracing my mother’s steps along this street 22 years on, and to see the transformation that has taken place, from an unsafe and desolate place into a vibrant community of local businesses and colleges.”

Diana was famously pictured in a partially cleared minefield in the Angolan town of Huambo in 1997, to highlight the plight of those maimed by the weapons and to urge a worldwide ban.

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The images which made front pages across the globe helped advance the cause of those campaigning to ban the weapons.

But Harry's mother never saw her work to help outlaw landmines come to fruition as she died the year of her Africa visit a few months before the international treaty to outlaw the weapons was signed.

Referencing the change in the site since his mother's visit, he added: “Being here on this transformed and bustling street – the site where my mother once walked through a live minefield – shows the tremendous impact that clearing landmines has on communities and their futures. But let us not lose sight of the reality.

“Twenty two years after my mother visited Angola, there are still more than 1,000 minefields in this beautiful country that remain to be cleared. I wonder if she was still alive whether that would still be the case. I’m pretty sure she would have seen it through."

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He went on: “This is a wonderful example of how the UK partnership with Angola can address the issue of landmines, bringing prosperity to an area, creating jobs, helping people access education and healthcare, and making communities safer.

"The work of de-mining is dangerous, expensive and laborious, and I have the utmost admiration and respect for all who do this hazardous work and risk their lives in service of their community.

“I am incredibly proud as I know my mother would’ve been, of the role that the United Kingdom has played in this transformation through funding and the expertise brought by UK specialist organisations such as the HALO Trust and Mines Advisory Group."

"I also want to acknowledge the commitments and contributions from the international community including Norwegian People’s Aid, Mine Action in Angola, and our partners in the United States, Japan, Germany and others."

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“But of course none of this progress would have been possible without the spirit and unwavering determination of the Angolan people. The credit goes to you. Your commitment remains strong – as we heard again this morning the Government has just committed 60 million dollars to mine clearance – setting an example for others across the globe,” he said.

Harry added: “In April 2017, I helped launch the Landmine Free 2025 campaign in London. The campaign is a call to action. A call to share the vision of the Mine Ban Convention and a call to communities around the world to follow Angola’s lead and achieve a mine-free world for future generations.

“A staggering 60 million people around the world still live in fear and risk of landmines. We cannot turn our backs on them and leave a job half done.

“The Angolan people have led by example and reaffirmed their commitment to be mine impact-free by 2025. And there is so much work already underway here to achieve this goal.”

Harry said that The UK has pledged “unwavering support” to the government, communities and de-miners to help make this possible.

“And I was pleased to be told last night that the US Government has this week given an extra $3 million to the international effort. I call on all those countries that had their names stamped on these weapons, but who haven’t helped in the clean-up, to please commit to ensuring we meet our collective goal.

He urged: “Let’s finish what was started, and in partnership with landmine clearance organisations, community leaders, and private supporters, redouble our efforts. Let us consign these weapons to the history books, for good.”

He flies to Malawi next before rejoining his wife, Meghan and baby son Archie in Johannesburg for the last part of the tour.

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