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Prince Harry retraces his mum’s footsteps in Angola

Diana would be so proud
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Mid-way through his family’s official tour of Africa, Prince Harry has moved royal fans and followers by retracing his mum,’s iconic footsteps through the once landmine-ridden fields in Huambo, Angola.

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WATCH: Unearthed secret voice recording of Diana that would break Harry’s heart

Before visiting the site of his mother’s famous walk, Harry made his way through a partially cleared minefield and detonated an anti-personnel mine in a controlled explosion near the town of Dirico.

Later, in Huambo, the Duke of Sussex looked every bit his mother’s son as he walked along a street that had once been the minefield where his mother had been famously pictured, kitted out in protective gear.

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“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,” read a statement accompanying pictures of Harry continuing his mother’s work posted to the young royal’s Instagram account.

“Princess Diana’s visit helped change the course of history, and directly led to the Convention against Anti-Personal Landmines, also known as the Ottawa Treaty.”

Though many of the mines have been cleared in the 22 years since Di had been there, Harry’s visit was also intended to highlight the work that still remains to be done. 

Despite great progress, 60 million people worldwide still live in fear of landmines every day,” explained the Instagram post.

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diana
(Credit: Getty)

The Duke of Sussex has also used in his in Africa to speak out about another cause close to his heart: climate change. 

In Botswana a day earlier, Harry delivered an impassioned speech about the dire need for urgent drastic change. 

Speaking on the banks of the Chobe River, where he helped young children plant Natal mahogany trees, Harry highlighted the activism of Greta Thunberg, who has sparked the global climate strike movement and addressed a UN one-day summit on the issue this week.

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“This last week, led by Greta, the world’s children are striking.

“There is an emergency, it’s a race against time and one in which we are losing, and everyone knows it.

“There is no excuse for not knowing, that I think the most troubling part of it is – I don’t believe there is anybody in this world that can deny science, undeniable science and facts.

“Science and facts that have been around the last 30, nearly 40 years, and it’s only getting stronger and stronger.

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“Genuinely I don’t understand how anyone in this world, whoever we are, you, us, children, leaders, whoever it is, no-one can deny science, otherwise we live in a very, very troubling world.”

harry planting
(Credit: Getty)

Meanwhile, back in South Africa, Harry’s wife Meghan Markle and four-month-old son were taking some time out from official duties while the prince travelled solo. 

But Meghan still managed to cause a stir, after a group of fans dubbed her an ‘African Queen’.

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Attending the ‘Ladies Who Launch’ event at the Woodstock Exchange, Meghan found herself confronted by crowds of well-wishers and fans who sang to her as she passed them by, waving and smiling.

As she walked passed their group, around 50 women sang to her: “African queen, there’s a new tomorrow, African queen, a dream we can follow” – unofficially bestowing the title of Queen on the Duchess of Sussex!

The Woodstock Exchange – a creative hub in one of Cape Town’s trendiest suburbs – played host to the event, which was held to bring together local female entrepreneurs to share their stories, and showcase how their unique skills and mentorship are changing the face of employment in South Africa.

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“I find that so fascinating, it’s such an interesting concept, by empowering these women from those backgrounds they are changing the focus of their communities and empowering the next generation,” said Meghan.

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