Picture a princess. What image comes to your mind? Something out of a Disney movie, right? Carriages, designer dresses, star-studded balls, and monumental weddings are some of the aspects that depict the mainstream image of royalty. Now picture a princess…in a war zone. In early 1997, Princess Diana of Wales found herself standing beneath the pungent Angolan sun, away from the luxuries and gala events, where she cast off her royal attire for protective body armor and a visor. Princess Diana of Wales shed a momentous light on one of the most unnoticed atrocities of the African continent: landmines. That single action of hers, on that day, still resonates for us today, long after her untimely death.
Darkness had fallen on the lives of many innocent African communities. As disputes between villages turned into wars, public areas were replete with tragedy and death. In the mid-1990’s, three-dollar weapons called landmines were terrorizing the innocent—claiming twelve thousand civilian lives and causing the highest number of amputees in the world. Landmines are placed during these armed disputes, concealed underground to destroy or disable enemy targets.1 Although the armed combats in Angola had ended, the war “debris” continued to threaten people’s safety. People were dying regularly from leftover landmines, but few outside Angola knew anything about them. These mines would remain “live” for years, even decades, waiting for unsuspecting victims, as per their design, causing unimaginable suffering and pain.2
The African people were in desperate need of a solution. They needed a defender. Their cry for help was heard, reaching the gates of Kensington Palace. It was none other than Princess Diana—keen philanthropist and self-proclaimed Queen of Hearts—whose life purpose had become to shed a humane light on controversial issues such as AIDS and homelessness. “I’d read the statistics that Angola has the highest percentage of amputees anywhere in the world. That one person in every 333 had lost a limb, most of them through land mine explosion.”3 The moment Princess Diana became aware of this neglected tragedy, she knew exactly what she needed to do: take immediate action. “I have all this media interest, so let’s take it somewhere where they can be positive and embrace a situation which is distressing like this.”3 In early January 1997, she flew to Angola along with the Red Cross and a BBC camera crew.
A fearless Diana put herself in the midst of one of the most dangerous places in the world, thousands of miles away from the royal guard, protected solely by a riot helmet and a flak jacket given to her. Accompanied by local anti-landmine activists, she was taken to see a land-mine clearing operation in Huambo, central Angola.5 This was a royal, who spent a large part of her life in luxurious settings being served by others, who was personally stepping into filthy fields to deactivate mines, serving those whose lives were shattered by the deadly weapons. As she pushed the button to detonate a single mine, she uttered the words “One down, 17 million to go.”6
After the cameras stopped rolling, Diana didn’t. The fight to ban antipersonnel landmines became a personal crusade, one that would fill the last year of her life.7 She made this clear in the last speech she ever delivered, stating, “The more expeditiously we can end this plague on earth caused by the landmine, the more readily can we set about the constructive tasks to which so many give their hand in the cause of humanity.”8 This public light shed by Diana brought nothing but success, influencing countries to come together to pledge millions of dollars to tackle the destruction caused by landmines, as well as bringing 122 governments from around the world to contribute to the passage of the Ottawa Mine Treaty. Landmines are still an issue of global concern, but Diana remains the most influential face of anti-landmine activism.
- Isebill V. Gruhn, “Land Mines: An African Tragedy,” Journal of Modern African Studies, no. 4 (December 1996): 688. ↵
- Stuart Maslen, Mine Action after Diana: Progress in the Struggle Against Landmines (London: Pluto Press, 2004), 15. ↵
- Heart of the Matter: Diary of a Princess, directed by Karina Brennan (UK: BBC, 1997). ↵
- Heart of the Matter: Diary of a Princess, directed by Karina Brennan (UK: BBC, 1997). ↵
- Encyclopedia of Espionage, Intelligence and Security, 2004, s.v. “Unexploded Ordnance and Mines,” by Mike Lambert. ↵
- Johnna Rizzo, “How Princess Diana Crippled The Case For Land Mines,” Newsweek, Oct. 24, 2015. ↵
- Johnna Rizzo, “How Princess Diana Crippled The Case For Land Mines,” Newsweek, Oct. 24, 2015. ↵
- Diana, Princess of Wales, “Responding To Landmines: A Modern Tragedy And It’s Consequences” (keynote address, Mines Advisory Group and the Landmine Survivors Network, London, June 12, 1997). ↵
82 comments
Ruben Basaldu
Princess Diana was such a great soul and it shows in the article. I did not know much about her before reading this article but after reading this article I think she is one of the most unique kinds of princess ever. You could say she was not what you would expect a princess to act like because we perceive how royalty looks as high-class important people. Not Diana she did not care if she had to get down and dirty if it meant getting the job done. Great article and it made Princess Diana seem like a person more than a princess
Sharriah Martinez
Thank you for this interesting article on Princess Diana, I did not know about her being active in anti landmine activism , more so be the face. This article did a great job at showing that people in royalty do not just sit in a palace all day. They get up and fight for what they believe in and use there power for good causes. She never failed to go out of her way to make sure action was delivered to the issue. This was a great read thank you
Noah Wesolowski
I had little knowledge on what kind of person Princess Diana before reading this. When I think about how the royal family acts I usually think they live in luxury most of their life and only travel for vacations. It surprised me to learn to that she is a person who tried to solve issues like AIDS and homelessness in Africa.
Madeline Torres
Princess Diana was such a beautiful person and great role model. I had no idea she did this and I am very amazed at the amount of courage she had in order to do this. This article did such a great job on showing Diana’s true intentions for the world and how great of a person she was. I would have never expected a princess to do this for those in danger and for to have put her own life at risk is just amazing. I am in awe with Princess Diana. Great article!
Lyzette Flores
Princess Diana had a very beautiful and generous soul. It is very devastating that she was taken from us very soon. You could tell Diana had a big heart and always cared for others. As the article stated, when you picture a princess you picture royalty and carriages. Diana, however, proved to us that although she could do royalty, she was not afraid to get dirty with work and do whatever it took to help others.
Crystal Baeza
I find it amazing how Princess Diana didn’t let her title get inside her head. She had the heart to genuinly care for others and used her title to help those in need rather than stay in her comfort zone. I knew she was a part of many organizations who didn’t have voice but never about this one and entering a war zone. Only a true princess could have done such a heroic deed. I loved her active services to simply help and make the world a better place.
Roman Olivera
This is such a great article. I remember Princess Diana and she was such a great humanitarian. I remember her as a Princess that was so in touch with common people. She genuinely loved people and seemed to be in touch with how the people in nations like this were feeling. Oppression of people is still a big problem but she brought it to light on a global aspect. I really thought this article show her as the person she was. A gentle and caring Princess that was take from us way to soon.
Honoka Sasahara
I love the pictures and the story of princess Diana’s humanity. I think that it is not easy for some others to putting theirselves in hard situations even for their own faiths. She must have been so strong that she could do something only for fortune of others but that of her. The situation of the world could be better if everyone can think about things like princess Diana did.
Pamela Callahan
Princess Diana was truly an inspiration and should be held as a role model for our political leaders all around the world. I really appreciate the fact that she used her social status and recognition, not for personal gain or popularity, but to provoke a change and make the world a better place. I believe that most of the leaders we have around the world today would not be willing to walk across an active landmine field and I think that Diana was very brave to even consider doing so.
Madison Downing
Sometimes I feel that we as a community can forget about a person because of their title. I know Diana as she was, a beautiful princess. I got so excited when I read your article because a thousand times over she showed us that she wasn’t just a princess or woman but she was HUMAN. She went out of their way to make sure that action was delivered even if that meant putting herself in the front lines which must have been extremely stressful for her family but Diana never let it show. She has always been a beautiful woman not just because of her looks but that huge heart that lead her to do the things she did even if they weren’t seen as “royalty”.