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HARRY'S HEARTACHE
Prince Harry tried to ‘suppress his emotions’ at Angola landmines as he walked in Princess Diana’s footsteps
PRINCE Harry “struggled with grief and anguish” today as he paid tribute to Princess Diana at the Angolan landmines, according to a body language expert.
The Duke of Sussex, 35, was pictured walking through a minefield, mirroring the famous photo of the People's Princess taken in Africa just months before her tragic death in 1997.
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Judi James told Fabulous Digital that Prince Harry tried to “suppress his emotions” during the “poignant” engagement.
The body language expert said: “It would be easy to underestimate the emotional challenge for Harry today as he walked in the iconic footsteps of his mother Diana.
“Having arrived in the country as a husband and a father he was suddenly alone and thrown back into the role of bereaved young son and much of the anguish he must have been feeling was subtly etched on his facial expressions and body language as he walked among the mines and made his speech.
“His narrowed, tired, reflective-looking eyes made it look as though he could have been struggling with his grief.
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“There were smiles from Harry at some points, but as he donned the safety clothing and made that same walk as his mother his mouth appeared to drop open.”
During the engagement, the duke spoke about the importance of supporting the community.
Judi added there were times during Prince Harry’s speech where he appeared to be “swallowing heavily” and “rocking from one foot to the other.”
She said: “He also sucked his lips in at one point and these could all be signals of an attempt to quietly self-motivate while trying to suppress his emotions.”
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Prince Harry helped detonate a landmine at a de-mining site in Dirico, Angola and he looked pensive as he donned body armour and a protective visor.
It is a "particularly significant" event for the royal, who is currently on a ten-day tour of Africa with wife Meghan Markle, 38, and four-month-old Archie.
He today praised his mother's visit that "helped change the course of history" on social media as he helped to detonate a landmine.
In the Instagram post shared this morning, Sussex Royal wrote: "The Duke is humbled to be visiting a place and a community that was so special to his mother, and to recognise her tireless mission as an advocate for all those she felt needed her voice the most, even if the issue was not universally popular."
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Speaking at the landmine site, he praised the efforts of the , which works to clear landmines and other explosives in countries recovering from war.
He said: "Landmines are an unhealed scar of war. By clearing the landmines we can help this community find peace, and with peace comes opportunity,
"Additionally, we can protect the diverse and unique wildlife that relies on the beautiful Kuito river that I slept beside last night.
";That river and those wildlife are your natural assets and, if looked after, will bring you unlimited opportunities in the conservation-led economy."
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Prince Harry will later travel to Huambo where he will rename the Orthopaedic Centre after Princess Diana.
Speaking before the event, Sam Cohen, Harry’s private secretary, said: “In a particularly significant and poignant journey, the Duke of Sussex will have the opportunity to return to Angola to see first-hand the legacy of his mother.”
It was earlier revealed he wouldn't be able to walk the same route as his mother once did in the iconic photo, as the area is now a street filled with shops and schools thanks to Diana.
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