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Prince Harry follows in Diana's footsteps in Angola

Prince Harry's trip to Angola comes 16 years after his mother, Princess Diana, gave the landmine clearance cause a global profile with a visit to the African country.

Princess Diana visited a minefield in Angola in January 1997 to see the work of the British Red Cross. Credit: John Stillwell/PA Archive
The Princess of Wales was shown a selection of landmines at a training centre during her four-day visit to the African country. Credit: PA Archive
Her walk through minefields with body armour, barely months before her death, became a defining image of her charity work. Credit: John Stillwell/PA Archive

Read: Met assessing new Diana death information

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Harry adopts Diana mine cause

Prince's private visit reminds public of landmine cause

Prince Harry first saw the Halo trust's landmine clearance in Mozambique three years ago and has witnessed the suffering they cause to soldiers and civilians while with the military in Afghanistan.

Some 16 years after his mother's visit to Angola did so much to raise awareness of the problem, mines are still being laid daily.

As ITV News Correspondent Richard Pallot reports, the prince's private visit makes the cause very public once again.

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Harry adopts Diana mine cause

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'Much work to be done' to achieve mine-free Angola

The Halo trust said "excellent progress" has been made between Princess Diana's visit to Angola in 1997 and Prince Harry's trip this year, but there are "many years of work to be done".

Wars may be over but many people are still unable to resume their normal lives, facing the threat of death or injury by landmines every day.

Halo is making excellent progress in Angola, with the province of Huambo now close to becoming mine free, but there are still many years of work to be done.

With support from Prince Harry, Angola and the international community, Halo will continue to work towards a mine-free Angola for the benefit of the Angolan people.

– Halo chief executive Guy Willoughby
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Prince Harry's support 'invaluable' to landmine mission

The Halo Trust has said Prince Harry's support to help remove landmines from African nations plays "an invaluable role" in raising awareness of the charity's "work and mission".

The organisation's projects in war-torn countries clears the ground for some of the world's most vulnerable people to plant crops, rebuild homes and raise families in safety.

Harry's trip to Angola is part of his role as patron of the trust's 25th anniversary appeal. Credit: Halo Trust
While there he visited demining teams across the region, touring minefields and meeting some of the key beneficiaries of Halo's work. Credit: Halo Trust
He concentrated his visit on the south-eastern Angolan town of Cuito Cuanavale, believed to be the most heavily mined town in Africa. Credit: Halo Trust
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Harry adopts Diana mine cause

Prince Harry adopts Diana's landmine charity cause

Halo said it was "delighted that Prince Harry has come out to Angola to support us in getting mines out of the ground, for good". Credit: Halo Trust

Prince Harry has expressed his frustration that countries which supplied landmines to African countries are doing nothing to get rid of them, following a visit to clearance projects in Angola.

The 28-year-old followed in his mother's footsteps by taking up the cause of the Halo Trust.

Guy Willoughby, Halo's chief executive, said the prince was left "irritated" and with a "bee in his bonnet" that nations are not putting in any funds to clear landmines they supplied 25 years ago.

He said the charity was "delighted" at Harry's involvement after seeing the impact of Diana's famous visit in 1997.

"The minefields that his mother visited are all now shops and roads and there's even an estate agent's on one of them," Mr Willoughby said.

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Harry adopts Diana mine cause