HARRY'S MISSION
Prince Harry to continue mum Princess Diana’s work to clear Angola of landmines
PRINCE Harry is set to continue his mum Princess Diana's work to clear Angola of landmines.
The People's Princess famously walked through a minefield to highlight how many were maimed by the military weapons in January 1997.
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Princess Diana clears land mines with The Halo Trust in Angola
She later detonated a landmine in front of the world's media to show their destructive power.
The Duke of Sussex today joined a panel of experts in central London to discuss developing the Halo Trust project and following in his mum's footsteps.
Diana touched the hearts of millions when she met with Sandra Tigica – who was 13-years-old when one of her legs was blown off by a mine.
She was never able to see her work on outlawing landmines to materialise, as she died a few months before the international treaty to ban them was signed in 1997.
Prince Harry and others listened to the call to action from the Angolan Environment Minister Paula Coelho.
Angola has many important remaining wildernesses, including the tributary system for the Okavango Delta.
FOLLOWING IN MUM'S FOOTSTEPS
Landmines and what is left of the civil war mean large areas of the southern African nation are unsafe for people and animals - as their livelihoods are dependent on the natural environment.
The 34-year-old royal today backed a £47million landmine clearing initiative to help rid the African country of the mines.
Ms Coelho pledged the money to continue to fund the work of The Halo Trust.
The cash injection will be used clear 153 minefields in a savannah area that is home to key waterways that flow into the Okavango Delta, in nearby Botswana - UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The royal highlighted the importance of Angola's remaining wildernesses saying they are "an asset that should be protected and benefited by its people".
Prince Harry said at event: "This unique ecosystem is one of the great wildlife refuges of the world - enriching its biodiversity for all of humanity.
"My hope is that through this collaboration, minefields can be cleared, land can be protected, wildlife can be free to return to where they once roamed, and Angolans can reap the rewards by co-existing with the one constant that will draw people in from all over the world - the extraordinary setting that they call home."
Prince Harry vows to continue Diana's mission to rid the world of landmines
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Prince Harry went to Angola was in 2013 where he met with victims of the munitions.
The new father added:"In Cuando Cubango, in the far south-east of what is a vast, beautiful country, I saw a struggling community in a deserted landscape unable to make use of the land."
He also highlighted the potential to "turn this land into a sustainable source for its people".
The duke said: "In fact I was told just the other day of the positive transformation in Huambo since my mother walked that minefield all those years ago.
"What is less well known is the impact landmines can have on conservation and wildlife, and therefore the economy."
Prince Harry has previously been vocal about the inspiring impact his late mother's campaigning had on him and others.
He said on International Mine Awareness Day in 2017 that his determined mum Diana faced down her critics to raise awareness.
Harry added: "Some believed she had stepped over the line into the arena of political campaigning – but for her this wasn’t about politics; it was about people.
"She knew she had a big spotlight to shine, and she used it to bring attention on the people that others had forgotten, ignored or were too afraid to support."
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The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are planning to are planning to travel to Angola as part of their Autumn tour to carry on her charitable legacy with the Halo Trust.
Harry and Meghan will also tour Malawi as part of the Prince's ambitions to expand the work of his Sentebale charity.
The tour will also include a visit to South Africa.
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