Newly released BBC archive footage shows Princess Diana's 1997 visit to Angola, where she walked through a live minefield to highlight the devastation caused by landmines. The images of the princess in a protective visor and flak jacket made global headlines, but also sparked a political row with the UK government.
Diana visited Angola in January 1997 as a guest of the International Red Cross. At the time, the country was recovering from a 20-year civil war, with over 15 million landmines contaminating the land. One in every 330 Angolans had lost a limb, the highest rate of amputees per capita in the world.
Walking alongside mine removal expert Paul Heslop of the Halo Trust, Diana called for a global ban on landmines. However, her stance clashed with UK government policy, leading Junior Defence Minister Earl Howe to label her a 'loose cannon' and 'ill-informed'. Asked about the controversy, Diana said: 'I'm not a political figure, nor do I want to be one. I come with my heart.'
Her advocacy helped mobilise public opinion and diplomatic pressure, contributing to the 1999 Ottawa Treaty banning anti-personnel landmines. Prime Minister Tony Blair pledged to ratify the treaty in time for the anniversary of her death. Diana died in a car crash in Paris on 31 August 1997, just weeks after visiting Bosnia to see demining work.
Despite the treaty, landmines remain a global problem, with key nations including the US, Russia, China, and India refusing to sign.
