Prince Harry issues 'heartbreaking' statement following Angola trip without Meghan Markle
Prince Harry visited Angola last week to raise awareness about the dangers of landmines
Prince Harry has issued an emotional statement after his solo visit to Angola, where he retraced the footsteps of his late mother, Princess Diana, and honoured her powerful legacy in landmine awareness.
The Duke of Sussex, who travelled without his wife, Meghan Markle, visited a remote village in Cuito Cuanavale, home to Africa’s largest minefield, 28 years after Diana’s iconic 1997 walk through a minefield in Huambo.
As a patron of landmine clearance charity The HALO Trust, Harry met with families who live near Africa’s largest remaining minefield and spoke directly to children about staying safe.
Following the trip, Harry released a heartfelt message via the official Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s website.
Prince Harry expresses ‘heartbreak’ in emotional statement
“As a father to young children, it breaks my heart to see innocent children still living and playing next to minefields,” the duke wrote. “All of us have a duty to protect children and future generations from the harms of war, both present and past.”
Calling for international support, Harry continued: “I urge all donors to stand with Angola in fighting the job. This is not just about landmines. It’s about healing the last wounds of war and giving future generations the peace they deserve.”
According to The HALO Trust, landmines have killed or injured over 60,000 people in Angola since 2008.
As a father to young children, it breaks my heart to see innocent children still living and playing next to minefields.
While the charity has cleared more than 120,000 landmines and 100,000 bombs, over 1,000 minefields still remain. In the past five years alone, at least 80 Angolans have been killed by the devices.
Harry’s trip not only brought renewed attention to the ongoing dangers of landmines but also marked a poignant tribute to his mother.
Princess Diana’s 1997 visit helped bring global awareness to the landmine crisis. Images of the late princess clad in protective gear became a defining symbol of humanitarian activism.
Latest on ‘reconciliation’ between Prince Harry and royal family
The visit also comes amid whispers of a possible royal reconciliation.
Just days before Harry’s Angola trip, aides from his team and King Charles’ communications secretary reportedly met in London, sparking speculation that the royals may be moving toward a tentative peace.
Meredith Maines, Harry’s chief of staff, and UK PR lead Liam Maguire met with Tobyn Andreae, the king’s communications secretary, at the Royal Over-Seas League near Clarence House, King Charles’ London residence.
While the meeting was described as routine, insiders have called it a “first step” toward mending ties between father and son.
A source told the Mail on Sunday that there was no formal agenda, only “things both sides wanted to talk about”.
The duke and his family remain estranged following explosive revelations in his memoir Spare, where Harry accused Prince William of physically attacking him and claimed King Charles was jealous of Meghan Markle and put personal interests above his son’s.
In an emotional interview with the BBC earlier this year, Harry made a plea for reconciliation.
“I would love reconciliation with my family,” he said. “There’s no point continuing to fight anymore. Life is precious. I don’t know how much longer my father has.”
King Charles continues to undergo treatment for an undisclosed form of cancer.
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