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
Briana Myers
Princess Diana was loved by many people and still is loved and remembered to this day. The fact that she left her luxurious life to help with this situation makes more loved. She was a woman that actually did something to help other and put her life at risk by disarming the landmines. This is definitely something that you do not see other celebrities or royals doing nowadays. She was a role model for many people and she continues to be one.
Matthew Rios
It’s nice to see the royals of other countries put forth the time and effort to enter the world beyond them. So many celebrities and leaders of today live in a bubble who only speak of righteous values and things that we as people should hold, but they do not hold nor practice the values themselves. So seeing things like Princess Diana lending her ear, time, and love to such impoverished people is extremely heartwarming and forces me to respect her in kind. I never really had known much of her before, but this makes me want to learn more about her. Such a shame a wonderful Princess was taken from the world so early.
Valeria Hernandez
Maria Cecilia Callejas provides a fantastic article providing readers a narrative on Princess Diana’s activism towards active minefields. I enjoyed reading this article because it had a good story development giving readers information about a specific life event not a broad summary of her life. Callejas has great paragraph integrations and a catchy introduction. She is able to captivate my attention using an iconic, popular, and idolize woman like Princess Diana.
Benjamin Voy
This is a phenomenal article that really makes me proud to be births. It is so nice that Princess Diana took time out of her busy life to travel across the world and enter, clearly, one of the most dangerous places in the world at that time to lift the spirits of these people. It shows that the royal family really do care about the world and do want to make it a better place. Great article
Thomas Fraire
This article is really cool, its truly addable that Princess Diana looks out for her people and takes care of those around her. I also really like the article as a whole it had a really strong opening and really good flow over all it flowed smooth. It is crazy how these bombs still haven’t all been found and people risk there lives just living everyday life.
Sam Vandenbrink
Its a very well written article, and an interesting topic. It crazy how one lady can have such an impact on a large group of people. It takes one person to break the ice and lead people to help others and we see Diana make an incredible impact on this large group of people. Its impressive for one but it is also incredible to see how she lead the people and started to have such a great impact on so many peoples lives single handedly. And that she was able to lead other to help as well makes such a bigger impact because change comes in numbers.
Cameron Ramirez
Princess Diana was such a visionary and devoted activists in times of need. It is so sad that we lost her so young in life. I did not know that Princess Diana traveled to Angola to shed light on the resent horrors of the landmines that covered the country. Thanks to Diana’s work she was able to shed light on what was going on in the African continent. Your article was very informative and concise. Keep up the good work!
Jazmin Pizana
Great article! I don’t remember much about Princess Diana but growing up I have learned more about her. I did not know that she went over and helped with the landmines. It goes to show that she was more than beauty. She wasn’t afraid to get in the middle of the danger. She is a true inspiration and the world suffered a tragic loss.
Sebastian Castro Ramos
Excellent article! It inspiring to see how this princess got out of the zone of comfort and luxury that many member of the royalty don’t know, and set herself on minefields to help out on the task of clearing mines. She is an example ,not only to those on the royalty but to everyone, that if you wan’t to see a difference in the world you must step out of your comfort zone and go out there to help however you can.
Mark Martinez
An amazing and well written article that kept me hooked the entire time reading. It just amazes me how someone would have the courage to navigate a live mind field. What Princess Diana did for the people Angola was more then just risk her life but bring the attention of the entire world. I still cant wrap my mind around what she had done, not just because she is a princess but because her life would have ended.