Prince Harry Arrives Angola To Walk Across Landmine Field While Meghan Remains In The U.S. Over 'Security Concerns'

Prince Harry arrived in Angola to support the Halo Trust's landmine-clearing work, a cause dear to him and once championed by his mother, Princess Diana.

However, the Duke of Sussex traveled without his wife, Meghan Markle, with sources citing safety and privacy reasons for her absence.

Prince Harry's visit follows recent secret talks between his aides and King Charles's team in London, sparking hopes of reconciliation between father and son.

Harry arrived in Angola today for a mission with the Halo Trust, the landmine-clearing charity famously supported by his late mother, Princess Diana, 28 years ago. His visit aims to spotlight the organization's work and build on his personal commitment to the cause.

However, unlike his mother's iconic 1997 visit, Harry made this trip alone. Insiders say he felt it was too dangerous for Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, to join him, especially given ongoing concerns about their security during public appearances.

"The duke won't let his wife go to England over security concerns, so there was no chance he'd allow her to go to Angola to walk across landmines," an insider told the Daily Mail.

Harry's journey began at Luanda Airport, after which he boarded a series of light aircraft headed for the remote areas marked for mine clearance.

The duke hopes his visit will draw attention to the cause and encourage the Angolan government to increase its financial backing for the organization's work.

"Usually, these trips help to drive a bit more money from the government," the insider noted.

When Harry became a patron of the Halo Trust in 2019, the Angolan government committed £46 million [$61.5 million] towards building wildlife corridors and safeguarding endangered species in protected areas.

The country also set an ambitious goal to rid its land of all landmines by 2025, a target Harry reportedly hopes to help accelerate with his latest visit.

Angola, a nation on Africa's southwest coast, endured a devastating 27-year civil war that ended in 2002.

Decades later, the scars of conflict remain, with vast stretches of countryside still littered with hidden landmines.

Since 1994, the Halo Trust has cleared over 123,000 mines in Angola, working to convert former battlegrounds into farmland, nature reserves, and "safe" villages.

Harry's visit is expected to echo the powerful moment his mother, Princess Diana, created in 1997 when she famously walked through a minefield wearing protective Halo gear.

The images of that bold act captured global attention, especially as Diana tragically died in a car crash later that same year.

Although some speculated that Meghan would join the trip, sources close to the duke confirm that won't be happening. According to insiders, beyond concerns for Meghan's safety, Prince Harry prefers to keep his involvement with the Halo Trust personal and somewhat private.

"Halo is really his thing, it means so much to him to be patron, and he just wants to keep his work with them to himself," a source shared.

Harry's latest trip also comes at a time when he's eager to shift attention away from ongoing tensions with the Royal Family. Instead, he hopes to spotlight Halo's innovative use of AI and drone technology, tools that are revolutionizing landmine clearance efforts.

While a speech is reportedly planned for later today, British media outlets won't be in attendance — a decision made by Halo, with Harry's approval. Yet despite the press restrictions, the visit is still expected to draw significant global attention.

Harry's visit to Angola follows a discreet peace summit held in London last week, a meeting many view as part of a broader effort by the Sussexes to repair their strained relationship with the royal family and reshape their public image.

The quiet talks reportedly involved Harry and Meghan's top aides and King Charles's chief of communications.

Meredith Maines, the Sussexes' new communications chief, met with Tobyn Andreae, the King's communications secretary, at the Royal Over-Seas League, a private members' club just a short walk from Clarence House. Also present was Liam Maguire, head of the Sussexes' UK PR team.

Images of the meeting sparked speculation about a possible thaw in the long-standing family tensions, raising hopes of a future reconciliation between Harry, 40, and his father, King Charles, 76.

Royal insiders have suggested this was the first step in a so-called "rapprochement process," an attempt to mend the fractured ties between the Sussexes and the rest of the royal family.

However, experts noted that while Charles may be open to peace talks, Prince William is believed to be less inclined to reconcile with his brother.

Even so, it's thought the King would have consulted his heir before any overtures were made toward Harry's camp.