Prince Harry and Prince William have received some particularly upsetting news ahead of their late mother Princess Diana‘s 60th birthday next month. It was announced on Wednesday that ten members of staff from The Halo Trust have been killed by an armed group at a mine clearance camp in Afghanistan.
Poignantly, Princess Diana had a very strong connection to The Halo Trust. She famously walked through one of Halo’s minefields in Angola in 1997; shortly after her visit, the Ottawa Mine Ban Treaty was signed, calling for all countries to rid the world of landmines.
Prince Harry went on to follow in his mother’s footsteps and some 22 years later he returned to the same minefield to bring further awareness to the important cause.
Kensington Palace previously stated: “The Princes hope that the statue will help all those who visit Kensington Palace to reflect on their mother’s life and her legacy.”
Back in 2017, it was announced that William and Harry had chosen renowned artist Ian Rank-Broadley for the piece, known for his portrait of the Queen on British coins.
It will be Harry’s first time back in the UK since welcoming his daughter, Lilibet ‘Lili’ Diana, with Meghan Markle on 4 June. He was last reunited with the royals at the funeral for Prince Philip at St George’s Chapel in Windsor on 17 April.
Harry, Meghan and their two children now live in Montecito following the couple’s decision to step back from royal duties in March 2020.
