Prince Harry Says 'Much Has Changed in My Life' Since Retracing Princess Diana's Footsteps Through Minefield in 2019

Mar. 15, 2025

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, speaks at the HALO Trust event celebrating Angola’s leadership in landmine clearance at the UN General Assembly in New York on Sept. 23, 2024.Photo:ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty

ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty

Prince Harryis making his mark in New York City for a charity closely associated withPrincess Diana’s legacy.

On Sept. 23, the Duke of Sussex, 40, stepped out for an event supportingThe HALO Trust. The humanitarian group, which is at work in over 30 countries and territories around the world to clear landmines and debris of war, gained international acclaim when the late Princess of Waleswalked through an active landminein Huambo, Angola, in 1997 to call for an international ban.

As his mother’s name and legacy surrounding this work was mentioned at the Sept. 23 event in N.Y.C., Prince Harry appeared visibly moved.

“As you know, The HALO Trust work in Angola meant a great deal to my mother,” Prince Harry said during his remarks at the event. “Carrying on her legacy is a responsibility that I take incredibly seriously.”

Of his own visit to Angola five years ago, he said: “Much has changed in my life and the world since 2019 when I first visited. In those five years, I’ve become a father for the second time. And while you don’t need children to have a stake in the future of our planet, I do know that my mother would have been horrified that anyone’s children or grandchildren would live in a world still infested with mines.”

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, speaks at The HALO Trust event celebrating Angola’s leadership in landmine clearance at the UN General Assembly in New York on Sept. 23, 2024.ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty

The Duke of Sussex memorably retraced his late mother’s footsteps at thesame sitein 2019 during a tour of Africa with his wife,Meghan Markle, and their sonPrince Archie, now 5. The former landmine field became a vibrant community with several colleges, schools and small businesses. “The Diana Tree” marked the spot where she was photographed in a flak jacket and face shield, just like one her son wore 22 years later.

Joining the Duke of the Sussex on stage at the event was U.S. Senator Chris Coons of Delaware, who praised Harry for carrying on his mother’s legacy during the event.

After Harry’s speech, Coons turned to the Duke and said: “Prince Harry, thank you for your leadership, for your heart, for your vision, for sustaining the legacy of your mother and for inspiring a whole new generation around the world to be engaged in this critical work against the scourge of land mines.”

Valdemar Fernandes, HALO Angola Program Operations Manager, joined the organization in 1997 and was there for Diana’s memorable walk through the landmine in Angola.

Speaking to PEOPLE at the event, he says: “It was very important. Before her visit, there was very little awareness for the mine problem around the world. And when she visited Angola in 1997, she managed to bring international attention.”

Of Harry now carrying on his mother’s legacy, Fernandes says, “He is doing very well…He’s taking this seriously, he wants this job to be finished, and I think we’ll get there.”

Prince Harry in Angola in 2019; Princess Diana in Angola in 1997.

Harry’s outing with the HALO Trust comes amid his solo trip to New York City, visiting from his California home where he lives with Meghan and their children, Archie, and daughter,Princess Lilibet, 3. In late August, a spokesperson for the Duke of Sussex announced that he would be in New York to “advance a number of his patronages and philanthropic initiatives” and “participate in engagements with African Parks, The HALO Trust, The Diana Award and Travalyst.”

Prince Harry will also “be furthering the work of The Archewell Foundation, the nonprofit organization he co-founded with his wife Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex,” the spokesperson said.

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“I certainly hope and believe everything I do makes her proud,” the Duke of Sussex told PEOPLE in 2016. “In the 12 short years I was lucky enough to have with her, I saw and felt the energy and lift she got from helping others, no matter their background, ailment or status. Her life and theirs was better for it, however short theirs or hers was.”

“I honor my mother in everything I do. I am my mother’s son,” he said.

source: people.com